John Arum
A student of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) John Arum, has regained his freedom after spending weeks in captivity following his abduction along the notorious Jos–Kaduna highway, a route increasingly associated with kidnappings and armed attacks.
Arum, an indigene of Plateau State, was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna, in an incident that once again highlights growing security concerns along major inter-state routes in northern Nigeria.
His release has brought relief to his family, friends and members of the university community, who had endured anxious weeks marked by uncertainty and conflicting reports about his fate.
The family confirmed his return after a video surfaced online showing him safely back home. His sister, Jessica Izang, said he is currently in Jos and receiving medical attention.
“He is with the family and undergoing medical checks. For now, we want to keep him safe and out of the public eye, but we will issue a formal statement in due course,” she said, while expressing appreciation to those who supported the family during the ordeal.
Providing further details, his brother, Joseph Azi, said the circumstances surrounding Arum’s release remain unclear but disclosed that the family received a call from an unfamiliar number indicating that he had been found in Katsina State.
According to him, the caller said Arum had been assisted by a passerby who took him to a motor park, where arrangements were made for his journey back to Jos. The family later received him late at night around the Farin Gada Roundabout.
“He was brought in by a driver. We took him home briefly before moving him to the hospital, where he is now receiving care,” he said.
Arum was reportedly abducted alongside other passengers, with his captors initially demanding a ransom of N30 million. The demand was later reduced to N5 million during negotiations, before it was said to have been raised again to N10 million, prolonging the ordeal.
At one point, unverified reports claiming he had been killed circulated widely, sparking panic among relatives and sympathisers. However, a video later emerged showing him alive, as his abductors dismissed the claims.
Sources said he was eventually found along the Funtua–Zaria axis in a weak but stable condition. Another individual familiar with the development said a traveller who spotted Arum and another victim assisted them, helping them clean up before handing them over to relatives in Katsina, who facilitated his return to Jos.
His release has again drawn attention to the persistent threat of kidnapping along key highways, particularly the Jos–Kaduna corridor, where commuters have repeatedly been targeted by criminal groups.
The family is expected to issue an official statement in the coming days, as details surrounding the exact circumstances of his release remain unclear at the time of filing this report.
