I Was Kidnapped With Fake Job Offer – UNIJOS Graduate

A graduate of the University of Jos, John Arum Azi, has narrated how he was allegedly kidnapped after accepting what appeared to be a genuine welding job offer.

Azi shared his experience during a testimony at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos North LGA of Plateau State, saying the suspected kidnappers repeatedly contacted him and even sent him transport fare to convince him the job was real.

According to him, he travelled from Jos to Zaria, Kaduna State, on April 11, 2026, believing he was going for welding work. After arriving, he was instructed to board a motorcycle to a village.

Although he became suspicious during the journey, he ignored the signs because he urgently needed employment.

“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 said he was later taken deep into a forest where he noticed armed men waiting. He explained that the abductors searched him, seized his belongings and forced him to wear strange clothes and a face mask before moving him through forest routes into Zamfara State.

“We spent almost six hours moving through the bush on motorcycles. There was no security anywhere,” he recalled.

According to him, the kidnappers tied him up and contacted his family, demanding ₦30 million ransom. He also alleged that he was tortured and questioned about his religion during captivity.

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

Azi said the kidnappers later reduced the ransom demand to ₦6 million, but allegedly demanded an extra ₦4 million even after receiving payment.

He eventually regained freedom after spending 11 days in captivity and said he returned home traumatised but grateful to be alive.