UNIJOS graduate says a fake job offer resulted in his abduction in Zamfara

—Recounts ordeal in kidnappers’ den

By Golok Nanmwa

JOS — University of Jos graduate John Azi recounted a traumatic experience in which he says he was lured by a fake job offer, abducted, and taken to a kidnappers’ camp in Zamfara State.

Azi narrated his ordeal at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, yesterday, after regaining his freedom. He said the kidnapping occurred on 11 April 2026, shortly after traveling from Jos to Zaria in Kaduna State for what he believed was a legitimate job opportunity.

He said the suspected kidnappers repeatedly called him, offering welding work and even sending transport fare to convince him 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.

Arriving Zaria

Azi explained that after reaching Zaria he contacted the individuals, who instructed him to board another motorcycle heading toward a village.

Although he grew suspicious during the journey, he ignored the warning signs because he was desperate for 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.

He said that moments after arriving at the village, a man approached him claiming to be the person who had contacted him about the job.

The man then took him on a motorcycle into a remote forest area, where they encountered another heavily armed individual.

“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 while the kidnappers searched him, seized his phone, bag, and work tools, and gave him unfamiliar clothes and a face mask to wear.

He said the kidnappers later moved him from Kaduna through Giwa Local Government Area into Zamfara State after several hours of traveling 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.

Upon reaching the camp, the kidnappers tied his hands and legs and contacted his family, demanding a ransom of N30 million.

“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called and demanded N30 million,” he said.

Azi narrated that he was repeatedly tortured and interrogated about his religion while in captivity.

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.

After a severe beating, he eventually shouted “Jesus,” which confirmed 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.

Following that, the kidnappers nicknamed him “Pastor” for the remainder of his captivity.

Azi said constant prayer 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.

The ransom

He explained that negotiations reduced the ransom demand from N30 million to N6 million.

Even after the money was paid, the abductors allegedly 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.

Support from relatives, friends, and sympathisers eventually secured his freedom after several days in captivity.

The UNIJOS graduate said he regained his freedom and returned home traumatized but grateful to be alive.

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