The University of Jos Alumni Association (UJAA) has expressed profound concern over the abduction of one of its members, a kidnapped graduate identified as John Arum Azi, calling on Nigerian security agencies to act swiftly and decisively for his immediate and safe release. The incident has sparked widespread alarm within the institution’s alumni community and raised serious questions about the security situation affecting young professionals in Nigeria.
In an official statement released on Tuesday by the association’s Global President, Gad Peter, the UJAA described the harrowing kidnapping incident as far more than just another headline tragedy. The statement emphasized the personal connection and collective responsibility the alumni body feels toward protecting one of their own in this critical moment.
Alumni Association Issues Urgent Call for Action
The University of Jos Alumni Association released a comprehensive statement addressing the kidnapped graduate’s plight, demonstrating the institution’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its members. According to the official communication released by Global President Gad Peter, the association has mobilized to support efforts aimed at securing Azi’s safe return.
“We are deeply troubled by the news and circulating reports of a fellow Josite who has been kidnapped,” the statement declared, using the affectionate term for University of Jos graduates. “The University of Jos Alumni Association stands united in concern, in prayer, and in hope for his safe and immediate return.”
The association further emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating: “At a time like this, silence is not an option. We call on the appropriate authorities to act swiftly and decisively to ensure his rescue. Every moment matters.” This powerful message underscores the gravity with which the alumni body is treating the kidnapped graduate’s case and their determination to leverage institutional influence and public pressure for a positive outcome.
The proactive stance taken by the UJAA reflects growing concerns about security threats facing recent graduates and young professionals across Nigeria, particularly those engaged in business activities that require travel along major highways.
Details of the Kidnapping Incident
John Arum Azi, a Plateau State resident and recent University of Jos graduate, was abducted by suspected bandits while traveling along the Jos-Kaduna highway. The kidnapped graduate was en route to Kaduna on a legitimate business engagement when armed assailants intercepted his vehicle. According to reports, Azi was traveling to repair musical equipment for a client when the incident occurred, highlighting how ordinary business activities have become increasingly dangerous in certain parts of Nigeria.
The bandits responsible for the kidnapping have made a substantial ransom demand of N30 million for the release of the young graduate. This significant financial demand has added considerable pressure on Azi’s family and associates, who are grappling with both the emotional trauma of the situation and the financial burden of attempting to secure his release.
What has made this case particularly disturbing is the emergence of a viral video allegedly recorded by the kidnappers using the victim’s phone. The footage, which has circulated widely among Azi’s coursemates and across social media platforms, provides horrifying visual evidence of the torture and brutality being inflicted upon the kidnapped graduate.
Disturbing Video Evidence of Torture
The viral video documenting the kidnapped graduate’s ordeal has sparked widespread outrage throughout Nigeria and beyond. In the footage, Azi is shown lying face down on the ground while a heavy stone is deliberately placed on his back—a cruel and humiliating tactic reportedly used by the assailants to assert their dominance and extract compliance.
The video shows armed assailants surrounding the kidnapped graduate, with at least one perpetrator pointing a rifle directly at his head. Multiple assailants can be seen repeatedly flogging the young man, subjecting him to severe physical punishment while he desperately pleads for his life. The psychological and physical torture is evident throughout the disturbing footage.
In the recorded material, Azi is compelled by his captors to make direct pleas for ransom assistance, crying out: “Please don’t kill me, I’m begging you.” The forced nature of these pleas underscores the extreme coercion and threats of violence used by the kidnappers to ensure compliance and extract ransom payments from anxious family members.
The deliberate distribution of this video appears designed to instill fear and pressure into family members and associates, demonstrating the callous disregard these criminal elements have for their victim’s dignity and safety. Such tactics represent a escalation in kidnapping criminality, as perpetrators increasingly use multimedia evidence to enforce their demands and psychologically torture families of victims.
The Victim’s Background and Employment
Those who know the kidnapped graduate describe John Arum Azi as an exceptionally hardworking and well-mannered young professional. His employer, Mr. Jethro Akau, has provided insight into Azi’s character and professional capabilities, painting a picture of a dedicated technician committed to excellence in his work. Azi had recently completed his university education and was awaiting mobilization for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, a requirement for all Nigerian graduates.
As a skilled technician, Azi specialized in the repair, servicing, and installation of sophisticated musical equipment, including car audio systems and keyboard instruments. This specialized expertise would have positioned him for a promising career in the entertainment technology sector, had circumstances not taken this tragic turn. His work required regular business travel, including the fateful journey along the Jos-Kaduna highway that culminated in his kidnapping.
Mr. Akau has emphasized that Azi’s abduction occurred while he was engaged in legitimate business activities, undertaking routine professional duties that he had performed regularly as part of his employment responsibilities. The kidnapped graduate had embarked on the journey on Saturday with specific business engagements in mind, unaware of the dangers that awaited him on the highway.
Rising Security Concerns for Young Professionals
The kidnapping of this young University of Jos graduate reflects broader security challenges affecting Nigeria’s youth demographic, particularly those engaged in business activities requiring travel. The Jos-Kaduna highway has become increasingly notorious for banditry and kidnapping incidents, with numerous professionals and travelers falling victim to organized criminal gangs operating along this crucial transportation corridor.
The incident raises critical questions about personal security, highway safety, and the adequacy of protective measures available to young professionals conducting legitimate business activities. Young graduates like Azi represent Nigeria’s future workforce and economic potential, yet many find themselves vulnerable to criminal elements that operate with relative impunity across certain regions.
Source: Vanguard Nigeria
Call for Comprehensive Security Response
The University of Jos Alumni Association’s call for swift action represents more than institutional concern—it reflects a broader societal demand for enhanced security measures and effective law enforcement response to kidnapping cases. The UJAA’s position highlights the responsibility of government agencies to protect citizens engaging in lawful economic activities.
The case underscores the urgent need for improved security operations along major highways, better intelligence gathering to identify and neutralize kidnapping gangs, and swift response mechanisms when abductions occur. Every moment of delay in rescue operations increases risk to victims and potentially encourages further criminal activity.
The kidnapped graduate’s family and colleagues are hopeful that security agencies will prioritize this case and work toward his safe release. The determination expressed by the UJAA demonstrates that institutional support and public attention can serve as powerful tools in pressuring authorities to act decisively.
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