Suspected terrorists have abducted a University of Jos student, John Arum, alongside six other passengers while they were travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Kaduna State. The attackers reportedly intercepted the victims along the highway and later demanded a ransom of N30 million for Arum’s release.
In a disturbing video , Arum was seen being brutally tortured by two of his captors. The footage showed him being repeatedly flogged with a stick, forced to lie face-down, and subjected to further humiliation and assault, despite his pleas for mercy.
At one point in the video, the assailants placed a heavy stone on his back and held a rifle to his head while continuing the attack. A visibly terrified Arum was heard begging for his life, saying, “Please don’t kill me… I’m begging you.”
The kidnappers also forced him to speak in the video, where he stated that seven people were abducted and confirmed the N30 million ransom demand for his release. Reports indicate the video was recorded using his own mobile phone and sent to his coursemates to pressure relatives into paying the ransom.
The condition of the other six abducted victims remains unknown, as authorities have yet to confirm their status. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked widespread outrage, with Nigerians calling on security agencies to urgently intervene and secure the victims’ release while bringing the perpetrators to justice.
