The circulation of a distressing video showing the assault of John Arum, a Plateau State resident, at the hands of his kidnappers has triggered widespread public indignation.
Arum is a recent graduate of the University of Jos and was in the process of preparing for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.
Associates of the victim report that he was seized along the Jos–Kaduna highway. His captors are currently demanding a ransom of ₦30 million.
The viral footage depicts a brutal scene where Arum is forced to lie face-down with a heavy stone on his back while being beaten by two individuals.
Reports suggest the kidnappers used the victim’s own phone to record the abuse and sent it to various WhatsApp groups to coerce his family and friends into paying the ransom.
Confirming the abduction, Arum’s employer, Mr. Jethro Akau, characterized him as a diligent and respectful young man.
He noted that Arum worked as a technician specializing in musical equipment and had traveled to Kaduna last Saturday to fulfill a repair job.
“Later, when I tried reaching him, his phone was switched off. It was his elder brother who eventually informed me that he had been kidnapped,” Akau explained.
Visibly shaken by the event, Akau described the victim as a trusted person he relied upon heavily.
“I am deeply pained. This is a young man with a future, someone who is committed to his work and always ready to learn. It is heartbreaking to see him in such a condition,” he stated.
He made an emotional plea to the abductors, saying: “I am begging those holding him to have mercy. He is innocent and hardworking. We are all worried and praying for his safe return. He does not deserve this kind of treatment.”
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