Outrage as viral video shows abductors assaulting University of Jos graduate

Public outcry has followed the release of a viral video showing the brutal assault of John Arum, a recent University of Jos graduate abducted along the Jos–Kaduna highway by kidnappers demanding a $N30$ million ransom.

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A University of Jos student, John Arum Azi, was kidnapped while traveling to Kaduna. 😭

The kidnappers sent a distressing video showing him being tortured and are demanding ₦30 million for his release.

His life is in… pic.twitter.com/Od1oY5OtpP

— SLIMNAZI (@SlimNazi) April 13, 2026

The abduction and subsequent assault of John Arum, a fresh graduate of the University of Jos, has sparked widespread condemnation after a distressing video of the incident surfaced online. Arum, who was awaiting mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was intercepted by gunmen while traveling along the Jos–Kaduna highway. The kidnappers have since demanded a ransom of $N30$ million for his release. In the viral footage, recorded on the victim’s own mobile phone and circulated via WhatsApp to pressure his family, Arum is seen lying face-down with a stone placed on his back while being subjected to physical violence by two captors.

The victim had embarked on the journey last Saturday after being invited to Kaduna in his professional capacity as a technician specializing in musical equipment. His employer, Mr. Jethro Akau, confirmed the incident, noting that he became concerned when Arum’s phone went unreachable, only to later learn of the kidnapping from the victim’s elder brother. The incident highlights the persistent security challenges along major northern transit routes, where travelers remain vulnerable to high-stakes extortion and violence.

Describing Arum as a hardworking and promising young man, Mr. Akau expressed deep devastation over the treatment of his staff member and protégé. He appealed to the abductors for leniency, emphasizing that the victim was simply an innocent professional trying to earn a living. “I am deeply pained. This is a young man with a future, someone who is committed to his work and always ready to learn. It is heartbreaking to see him in such a condition. I am begging those holding him to have mercy. He is innocent and hardworking. We are all worried and praying for his safe return. He does not deserve this kind of treatment,” Akau said.

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