Kidnapped UNIJOS Student Freed Following 10 Days In Captivity
The family of John Arum Azi, a student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), has confirmed his release from captivity following 10 days of gruelling negotiations and the payment of a N6 million ransom to his abductors.
Azi, who studies Early Childhood Education at the institution, was abducted while travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Zaria in Kaduna State. The exact date and location of the kidnapping remain under investigation by security authorities.
His captivity drew national attention after a distressing video circulated widely on social media platforms, showing the student being brutalised by his captors. In the footage, which sparked outrage among rights groups and the university community, the abductors were heard demanding an initial ransom of N30 million and issuing threats to execute the student if their demands were not met within a specified timeframe.
According to multiple published reports, the kidnappers maintained communication with the family, subjecting them to psychological pressure by allowing them to witness the victim’s suffering via video calls. Following protracted negotiations, the ransom demand was eventually reduced from N30 million to N6 million. The amount was reportedly raised through contributions from concerned Nigerians, colleagues, and community members who mobilised resources to secure Azi’s freedom.
Despite the family fulfilling the N6 million payment requirement, the abductors allegedly made a further demand for an additional N4 million after receiving the initial tranche. It remains unclear whether this subsequent demand was fully satisfied before Azi’s eventual release.
His freedom was confirmed on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, through a video shared by family sources on social media. The footage showed the visibly relieved student reunited with his loved ones, marking the end of an ordeal that had gripped the university community and reignited conversations about the security situation on major transit routes connecting Plateau and Kaduna states.
A statement from the University of Jos management, while not directly quoted in initial family updates, has previously condemned the rising incidents of student abductions and called on security agencies to intensify patrols along vulnerable corridors. The Plateau State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement detailing whether any arrests have been made or if investigations have yielded leads on the identity of the kidnap syndicate.
The release of Azi comes amid a broader pattern of targeted abductions on routes connecting tertiary institutions in Northern Nigeria, a trend that continues to pose significant security challenges for students, lecturers, and travellers in the region.