Abducted Benue Travellers Not UTME Candidates, JAMB Clarifies

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that the recently abducted travellers along Otukpo-Markudi Road in Benue State were not candidates of the ongoing 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as erroneously reported in the media.

JAMB, in a statement on Saturday, by its Public Communications Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the victims were participants in a police recruitment exercise who were apparently returning to their base in Otukpo.

Fabian faulted the speed with which it was reported that the victims were UTME candidates.

“It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions such as JAMB without proper verification of facts.

“Such premature conclusions appear, at times, to be driven more by a desire to assign blame than to seek truth. Some individuals even attempted to link the incident to the Board’s examination schedule, despite clear inconsistencies in that narrative.

“One would expect that, in light of the facts now established, those who propagated these unfounded claims would extend a public apology to JAMB for the unwarranted damage to its reputation.

“As citizens, we must cultivate the discipline of verifying facts before drawing conclusions or assigning blame. Supporting our institutions in their efforts to deliver on their mandates is far more constructive than undermining them based on unverified claims,” he added.

JAMB commended the security agencies for demonstrating commendable efficiency with the successful rescue of seven of the individuals who were kidnapped while travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo.

“This development brings immense relief, as the thought of these individuals remaining in the custody of their captors was deeply distressing; we pray for the rescue of the remaining ones.

“Regardless of their identity or purpose of travel, no Nigerian deserves to be subjected to kidnapping. Such incidents should unite us in concern and compassion, rather than serve as an opportunity to disparage institutions,” it said.

The Board reaffirmed its commitment to implementing progressive, development-driven policies that will continue to elevate its operations to global standards.