JAMB Sets the Record Straight: Abducted Passengers Not UTME Candidates!
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has elucidated that the seven individuals kidnapped while traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo were not aspirants for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a declaration made by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the Board confirmed that all seven individuals have been liberated by security forces.
This clarification follows previous reports that misidentified them as students on their way to take the UTME.
JAMB clarified that the individuals were, in fact, participants in an ongoing police recruitment process in Makurdi and were en route back to Otukpo during the event.
“This situation provides significant relief, as the notion of these individuals remaining in the hands of their captors was profoundly troubling,” the statement conveyed, while also expressing hope for the liberation of any other victims still held.
The Board condemned the dissemination of false information linking the incident to its examination timetable, deeming such assertions as hasty and baseless.
It remarked that “none of the individuals were UTME aspirants,” and emphasized that the narrative lacked validity from the very start.
JAMB further remarked that “it is unfortunate” that institutions are frequently assigned blame without sufficient verification, adding that some individuals seemed more focused on attributing fault than uncovering the truth.
The Board highlighted that UTME candidates are usually designated to various centers, rendering it improbable for a group to travel together for the examination.
“Irrespective of their identity or reason for travel, however, no Nigerian should endure the ordeal of kidnapping,” the statement continued, urging the public to prioritize empathy and unity over conjecture.
JAMB concluded by reaffirming its dedication to upholding international standards in its functions and called for enhanced national security to avert such occurrences in the future.
