According to a report by The Punch on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a graduate of the University of Jos, John Arum Azi, has recounted how he was abducted and held captive for 11 days after falling victim to a fake job offer that was allegedly used by kidnappers to lure him from Jos to Zamfara State.………
Azi shared his experience during a testimony in a church in Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Government Area, explaining that he believed he had secured a legitimate welding job after being repeatedly contacted by unknown individuals. He said the suspects even sent him transport fare, which convinced him the offer was genuine, prompting him to travel from Jos to Zaria in Kaduna State before being directed further into a remote village.
He narrated that upon arrival, he was eventually taken on a motorcycle into a forested area, where he began to suspect danger after noticing armed men in the bush. According to him, the situation escalated quickly as he was seized, searched, and blindfolded before being moved through isolated routes across Kaduna into Zamfara State.
He added that he was held in captivity for several days while the kidnappers contacted his family and demanded a ransom of N30 million, later reducing it to N6 million before increasing the demand again. Throughout the ordeal, he said he endured repeated threats, intimidation, and harsh conditions, which left him deeply traumatised.
Azi further recalled the moment he realised the severity of the situation, saying, “I saw a gun I had never seen before in my life.”
He explained that fear and confusion overwhelmed him as the armed men moved him from place to place, but he relied on prayer and hope for survival throughout his captivity. According to him, his eventual release came after negotiations involving his family, relatives, and sympathisers, who worked to secure his freedom after days of uncertainty.
