John Arum Azi Kidnapping Video sparks concern as abducted Nigerian student pleads for help after being taken along the Kaduna route

A disturbing video showing a kidnapped Nigerian student, John Arum Azi, has intensified public concern over rising insecurity along major highways in northern Nigeria, after he was abducted while travelling along the Kaduna route on Tuesday.

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John Arum Azi, a young man identified as a student, was reportedly travelling to Kaduna when he was seized alongside six other passengers, bringing the total number of victims to seven in the incident.

In the widely circulated footage, said to have been shared on Facebook via his mobile phone, John Arum Azi appears visibly distressed as he pleads for urgent assistance from his family and the public.

The video was allegedly recorded under duress after the abductors forced him to communicate their demands.

The kidnappers were said to have initially demanded a ransom of ₦30 million, reportedly threatening to kill John Arum Azi after he stated he could not meet their financial demand.

The situation has heightened fears among families and fellow students, many of whom continue to face similar threats across travel routes.

Kidnapping for ransom remains a persistent security challenge in parts of northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-West region, where states such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Niger, and Kogi have repeatedly recorded incidents involving armed groups targeting travellers and rural communities.

Despite ongoing assurances from security agencies that operations are being intensified to curb the menace, cases like that of John Arum Azi continue to raise serious concerns about safety on inter-state roads and the effectiveness of current counter-kidnapping measures.

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Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident as at the time of filing this report, while efforts to secure the victim’s release are believed to be ongoing.