A graduate of the University of Jos, John Azi, has narrated how he was allegedly lured with a fake job offer, abducted and taken to a kidnappers’ camp in Zamfara State.
Azi, who spoke at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, after regaining his freedom, said he was kidnapped on April 11, 2026, after travelling from Jos to Zaria in Kaduna State for what he believed was a legitimate welding job.
According to him, the suspected kidnappers had contacted him repeatedly by phone, offering him work and even sending transport fare to convince him that the offer was genuine.
“They kept calling me, asking me to come and work for them. They even sent transport money, so I believed it was real work,” he said.
Azi said that upon arriving in Zaria, he contacted the supposed employers, who instructed him to board a motorcycle to a nearby village.
He said he became suspicious during the journey but ignored the warning signs because he desperately needed work.
“I started having doubts, but I told myself maybe it was a connection that could help me. I did not know they were kidnappers,” he said.
According to him, shortly after arriving at the village, a man approached him and claimed to be the person who had contacted him for the job. He was then taken on a motorcycle into a remote forest area, where he saw another heavily armed man waiting.
“I saw a gun I had never seen before in my life. The man told me not to be afraid and claimed the person was a hunter, but deep down, I knew something was wrong,” he recounted.
Azi said he was forced to kneel down as the kidnappers searched him and seized his phone, bag and work tools. He was later given strange clothes and a face mask to wear.
He said the kidnappers subsequently moved him from Kaduna through Giwa Local Government Area into Zamfara State after several hours on motorcycles through forests and isolated routes.
“We spent almost six hours moving through the bush on motorcycles. There was no security anywhere,” he said.
On arrival at the camp, Azi said his hands and legs were tied before the kidnappers contacted his family and demanded N30 million ransom.
“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called and demanded N30 million,” he said.
He further narrated that he was tortured repeatedly and questioned about his religion while in captivity.
According to him, the kidnappers accused him of being a Christian and threatened to kill him.
“They were shooting guns everywhere and asking questions. Out of fear, I initially denied being a Christian because I thought they would kill me,” he said.
Azi said he later confessed his faith after he shouted “Jesus” while being beaten.
“While they were beating me, I suddenly shouted ‘Jesus.’ That was when they discovered I was a Christian,” he added.
He said the kidnappers thereafter nicknamed him “Pastor” throughout his stay in captivity.
Azi said constant prayers and faith in God helped him survive the ordeal.
“The only thing I kept doing was praying and asking God to save me,” he said.
He explained that after negotiations, the kidnappers reduced the ransom demand from N30 million to N6 million.
However, he alleged that even after receiving the money, the abductors delayed his release and demanded an additional N4 million.
“They started beating me again and said my family should add another N4 million. At that point, I thought I would not survive,” he said.
Azi said support from relatives, friends and sympathisers eventually helped secure his release after several days in captivity.
The UNIJOS graduate said he returned home traumatised but grateful to be alive.
