John Arum Azi, a graduate of the University of Jos, has narrated how suspected kidnappers allegedly deceived him with a fake job offer before abducting and holding him captive in a forest camp in Zamfara State for 11 days.
Azi shared his experience during a testimony at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos, on Sunday. According to him, the ordeal began after individuals posing as employers contacted him with promises of a welding job opportunity in Kaduna State.“They were the ones calling me on phone that I should come and work for them. They even sent transport money,” he said.
Believing the offer was genuine, Azi travelled from Jos to Zaria on April 11 in search of employment. After arriving in Kaduna State, he said the supposed employers instructed him to continue the journey to a village using a motorcycle. Although he became suspicious during the trip, he ignored the warning signs because he desperately needed work.
“I started having doubts, but I said to myself, ‘Since I’m already here, let me just go and do the work,’” he recounted.
The graduate said he later realised he had walked into danger after arriving at a remote location where armed men were waiting. “I saw a gun I had never seen before in my life,” he said.
According to him, the men searched him, seized his phone, bag, and work tools before forcing him through isolated bush paths into Zamfara State.
“We spent almost six hours moving through the bush on motorcycles. There was no security anywhere,” he recalled. Azi said the kidnappers later contacted his family and demanded N30 million ransom for his release.
“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called him and demanded N30m,” he said. He further revealed that he was repeatedly beaten and interrogated while in captivity, especially about his religious identity.
“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 explained that during one of the beatings, he cried out in prayer, which exposed his faith to the abductors.
“While they were beating me, I suddenly shouted ‘Jesus.’ That was when they discovered I was a Christian,” he added.According to him, the kidnappers subsequently nicknamed him “Pastor” throughout his captivity.
Azi said prayer became his major source of strength while he remained in the forest camp.
“The only thing I kept doing was praying and asking God to save me,” he stated.
He disclosed that after negotiations, the kidnappers reduced the ransom demand from N30m to N6m but later requested an additional N4m even after payment. ”They started beating me again and said my family should add another N4m. At that point, I thought I would not survive,” he said.
The graduate said support from family members, friends, and sympathisers eventually helped secure his release.Although traumatised by the experience, Azi expressed gratitude for surviving the ordeal alive.
