The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the abduction and brutal torture of University of Jos student, John Arum Azi, describing the incident as a chilling symbol of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity and the collapse of deterrence against violent crime.
A disturbing video showing the abducted student pleading for his life while being abused by armed kidnappers has sparked widespread outrage, further intensifying public anxiety over the unchecked wave of kidnappings across major highways.
The victim was reportedly abducted along the Kaduna–Jos highway, one of several transport corridors increasingly dominated by armed groups operating with little resistance.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja on Friday, HURIWA said Nigeria is “under criminal siege,” warning that kidnapping syndicates have evolved into organised enterprises thriving on fear, ransom payments, and weak enforcement.
The rights group said the attack on a student traveling for academic purposes reflects a dangerous shift in criminal targeting patterns, where young Nigerians are now routinely abducted on highways while pursuing education and opportunity.
“This is a national emergency. The torture of a university student in captivity, recorded and circulated by his abductors, is a direct indictment of the failure of security architecture to protect citizens,” HURIWA said.
The organisation also cited recent abductions of examination candidates in parts of the North Central region, warning that the education sector is becoming a recurring target for criminal gangs.
It criticised what it described as “a lack of decisive and coordinated leadership response” from federal authorities in dismantling kidnapping networks that continue to expand their territorial reach.
HURIWA further raised concerns over the absence of effective financial disruption strategies, questioning why ransom-linked transactions and suspected funding channels remain largely untraceable and not prosecuted.
According to the group, kidnapping has transformed into a structured economy with identifiable supply chains, making financial intelligence a critical battlefield that has not been adequately engaged by relevant agencies.
The association also faulted the National Assembly for failing to urgently pass comprehensive legislation that would establish fast-track courts for kidnapping cases and impose strict sentencing timelines.
HURIWA warned that prolonged trials and weak convictions have emboldened criminal actors, allowing them to regroup and escalate operations even after arrests.
The group called for urgent national measures including the establishment of specialised anti-kidnapping courts, a nationwide financial tracking system for ransom flows, and the deployment of surveillance technology on major highways and known flashpoints.
It also recommended a unified national security response structure integrating all security agencies, alongside improved protection for students through decentralised examination systems to reduce exposure to interstate travel risks.
Additionally, HURIWA urged government to provide structured support for victims of kidnapping, including psychological care and financial assistance for affected families.
“The continued normalisation of mass abductions and torture videos is a sign of state fatigue in the face of organised violence. This trajectory is unsustainable,” the group warned.
Signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA insisted that only urgent, coordinated, and measurable action can reverse what it described as Nigeria’s worsening descent into insecurity.
The group stressed that the protection of life must be restored as the central obligation of government, warning that failure to act decisively would further erode public confidence in the state.
UNIJOS student torture video sparks outrage, HURIWA condemns siege
