UNIJOS graduate shares ordeal after being abducted in fake job trap

A University of Jos graduate, John Arum Azi, has narrated how he was lured from Jos with a fake welding job offer and abducted for 11 days in a forest camp in Zamfara State.

Azi shared his experience during a testimony at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos, on Sunday, explaining that what appeared to be a genuine job opportunity turned out to be a trap set by kidnappers posing as employers.

According to him, the suspects contacted him repeatedly, claiming they had welding work available and even sent transport fare to convince him to travel.

“They were the ones calling me on phone that I should come and work for them. They even sent transport money,” he said.

Trusting the offer, Azi said he travelled from Jos to Zaria on April 11, expecting to begin work. However, upon arrival in Kaduna State, he was instructed to proceed to a rural village by motorcycle.

Although he began to feel uneasy during the journey, he continued because of his urgent need for employment.

“I started having doubts, but I was like, ‘Okay, let me just go. Since I’m there already, let me just go and do the work,’” he recounted.

Azi said the situation became more suspicious when he was taken deep into a remote area where armed men were waiting.

“I saw a gun I had never seen before in my life,” he said, adding that he was initially told not to panic and that the armed men were “hunters.”

He explained that his phone, belongings and tools were immediately seized before he was moved through forest paths into Zamfara State.

“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 he was held hostage while the kidnappers contacted his family and demanded a ransom of N30 million.

“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called him and demanded N30m,” he said.

He further narrated that he was beaten and interrogated repeatedly, including questions about his religion. Out of fear, he initially denied being a Christian but later cried out during torture.

“While they were beating me, I suddenly shouted, ‘Jesus,’” he said, adding that the abductors later nicknamed him “Pastor.”

Azi said prayer sustained him throughout his captivity, describing it as his only source of strength during the ordeal.

Following negotiations, he said the kidnappers reduced the ransom to N6 million but later demanded an additional N4 million even after part payment had been made.

“At that point, I thought I would not survive,” he said.

He explained that contributions from family, friends and sympathisers eventually secured his release after 11 days in captivity.

Azi added that although he returned home traumatised, he remains grateful to be alive.