JOS, Nigeria – John Azi, a graduate of the University of Jos, has shared a harrowing account of how a fraudulent job advertisement led to his abduction and a multi-week ordeal in a kidnappers’ den in Zamfara State.
Okay News reports that Azi, who recently regained his freedom, recounted his experience on Tuesday at a church in Jos North. He explained that his journey into captivity began on April 11, 2026, when he traveled to Zaria, Kaduna State, after being promised welding work. The kidnappers had built a sense of legitimacy by repeatedly calling him and even sending transport fare to cover his travel costs.
Upon arriving in Zaria, Azi was lured into a remote forest area under the guise of meeting his employers. He was subsequently ambushed by armed men, searched, and forced into the bush. The graduate revealed that he was transported on a motorcycle for six hours through forest routes, crossing from Kaduna’s Giwa Local Government Area into a camp in Zamfara State without encountering any security personnel.
While in captivity, Azi faced severe torture and interrogation regarding his religious beliefs. He noted that the kidnappers initially demanded a ₦30 million ransom, which was later negotiated down to ₦6 million. However, after the family paid the sum, the abductors demanded an additional ₦4 million, prolonging his stay and the physical abuse. Azi, who was nicknamed “Pastor” by his captors after he confessed his Christian faith during a beating, credited his eventual release to the collective financial support and prayers of relatives and friends. He returned home traumatized but expressed immense gratitude for surviving the life-threatening ordeal.
