Abducted UNIJOS graduate narrates ordeal, says ‘kidnappers lured me with fake job, even sent transport fare’

A graduate of the University of Jos, Plateau State, John Arum Azi, has recounted how suspected kidnappers lured him into captivity through a fake welding job offer after persistently contacting him by phone and even sending him transport fare to convince him the offer was genuine.

Azi narrated his ordeal after spending 11 days in captivity following the alleged abduction that took him from Kaduna State into remote forests in Zamfara State.

He shared the testimony at a church service in Tudun Wada area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday, describing how desperation for employment pushed him into what he later discovered was a carefully planned kidnapping operation.

According to him, the ordeal began after individuals repeatedly contacted him with promises of welding work.

The UNIJOS graduate said the callers went as far as sending him transport money to persuade him that the offer was legitimate.

“They kept calling me, asking me to come and work for them. They even sent transport money, so I believed it was a real job,” he said.

Azi explained that he travelled from Jos to Zaria, Kaduna State, on April 11, 2026, believing he was heading for a welding job opportunity.

However, shortly after arriving in Zaria and contacting the supposed employers, he was instructed to board a motorcycle heading to a village.

He admitted that 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, moments after arriving at the village, a man approached him claiming to be the same person who had contacted him about the welding work.

Azi said the man then took him on a motorcycle deep into a remote forest where another heavily armed man was already 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.

He said the suspected kidnappers immediately forced him to kneel down before searching him thoroughly.

According to him, they seized his mobile phone, work tools, bag and other belongings before handing him strange clothes and a face mask to wear.

The graduate further narrated that the abductors later moved him from Kaduna State through Giwa Local Government Area into Zamfara State after several hours of travelling 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.

Azi said that upon arriving at the kidnappers’ camp, his hands and legs were tied while the abductors contacted his family and demanded a ransom of N30million for his release.

“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called him and demanded N30million,” he said.

The victim also narrated how he was allegedly tortured repeatedly and interrogated about his religion while in captivity.

According to him, the kidnappers fired gunshots around the camp while questioning him, forcing him to initially deny being a Christian out of fear that they might 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.

However, he said the severe beatings allegedly inflicted on him by the abductors eventually forced him to reveal his faith.

“While they were beating me, I suddenly shouted ‘Jesus.’ That was when they discovered I was a Christian,” he added.

Azi disclosed that the kidnappers subsequently nicknamed him “Pastor” throughout his stay in captivity.

Despite the torture and threats, he said constant prayers and faith in God kept him alive during the 11-day ordeal.

“The only thing I kept doing was praying and asking God to save me,” he said.

He further explained that after negotiations with his family, the kidnappers allegedly reduced the ransom demand from N30million to N6million.

However, according to him, the abductors still delayed his release even after receiving the money and allegedly demanded an additional N4million.

“They started beating me again and said my family should add another N4million. At that point, I thought I would not survive,” he said.

Azi said support from relatives, friends and sympathisers eventually helped secure his freedom after several days in captivity.

The UNIJOS graduate said he eventually returned home traumatised by the experience but grateful to be alive.