Family and Employer Plead for Mercy as Abducted UNIJOS Graduate Appears in Viral Video
The family and employer of John Arum, a recent graduate of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), have made urgent appeals for mercy following his abduction and appearance in a disturbing viral video. Arum, who was preparing to enrol in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was kidnapped along the Jos–Kaduna highway, with his captors demanding a ransom of N30 million. The incident has ignited widespread public outrage as the video, showing him being assaulted in an open bush, circulates online.
Details of the Abduction and Viral Footage
According to associates, Arum was travelling to Kaduna on Saturday after receiving an invitation to repair faulty musical equipment. His employer, Mr Jethro Akau, confirmed that Arum worked as a diligent technician specialising in the repair, servicing, and installation of musical equipment. Akau expressed deep distress, noting that Arum was a trusted and dependable young man with a promising future. "I am deeply pained. This is a young man with a future, someone committed to his work and always ready to learn. It is heartbreaking to see him in such a condition," Akau said. He appealed to the kidnappers to show mercy, emphasising Arum's innocence and hardworking nature.
The viral video, reportedly recorded with the victim's mobile phone and circulated on WhatsApp to pressure his family and associates, shows Arum lying face-down with a stone placed on his back while two kidnappers beat him. This graphic footage has intensified calls for immediate action from security agencies.
University of Jos Alumni Association Responds
The University of Jos Alumni Association (UJAA) has expressed profound concern over the abduction, describing it as more than a mere headline. In a statement by its Global President, Gad Shamaki Peter, the association called on security agencies to act swiftly for Arum's safe and immediate release. "We are deeply troubled by the news and circulating reports of a fellow Josite who has been kidnapped. The University of Jos Alumni Association stands united in concern, in prayer, and in hope for his safe and immediate return," the statement read. The UJAA urged its members and the public to amplify calls for action while sharing information responsibly to maintain pressure on authorities.
Growing Calls for Intervention
At the time of reporting, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, mounting calls for urgent intervention highlight the rising cases of kidnapping along major highways in Nigeria. The UJAA stressed solidarity among its members, adding, "When one Josite is in distress, we all stand together." This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region, with many demanding enhanced measures to protect citizens and combat criminal activities.
