A student of the University of Jos, identified as John Arum, has reportedly been subjected to severe abuse by suspected bandits after being abducted alongside six others while travelling from Jos to Kaduna State.
The victims were said to have been intercepted along the highway, with the attackers demanding a ransom of N30 million for Arum’s release.
A disturbing video circulating online shows the student in distress as he is assaulted by his captors. In the footage, the assailants are seen repeatedly beating him while forcing him to plead for help.
Arum, visibly weakened, appealed for assistance, saying the group of seven was kidnapped while en route to Kaduna and urging that the ransom be raised for his freedom.
Sources indicated that the video was recorded using the victim’s phone and shared with his coursemates in what appears to be an attempt to pressure his family and associates.
The condition and whereabouts of the other six abducted victims remain unclear, raising further concerns about their safety.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians calling for urgent intervention by security agencies to rescue the victims and address the growing insecurity along major highways.
Kidnappings for ransom have continued to pose a serious threat in several parts of the country, particularly along inter-state routes, despite ongoing security efforts.