- the victims were actually involved in an ongoing police recruitment exercise
- the victims were ordinary travellers and not part of any organised group of students going for the examination
- he stressed that the incident remains serious regardless of the victims’ identity
Benue State Police Command and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have dismissed reports claiming that passengers kidnapped along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road were students heading to sit for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Both organisations issued separate statements to address the widespread narrative that had circulated across media platforms following the April 15 incident.
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Police spokesperson, Edet Udeme, clarified that the victims were ordinary travellers and not part of any organised group of students going for the examination. According to her, the individuals were passengers on a bus travelling towards Makurdi when the abduction occurred.
On its part, JAMB, through its spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, explained that the victims were actually involved in an ongoing police recruitment exercise and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the attack.
Benjamin criticised the spread of misinformation, noting that the false reports had unfairly drawn criticism toward the examination body. He urged those responsible for circulating the claims to retract their statements and apologise.
He also pointed out that the nature of UTME scheduling makes it unlikely for candidates who know each other to be assigned the same examination centre or travel together in groups, describing the initial reports as inconsistent with how the exam is organised.
Despite the clarification, he stressed that the incident remains serious regardless of the victims’ identity, adding that no Nigerian deserves to be subjected to kidnapping. He called on the public to focus on empathy and support rather than spreading unverified information that could damage institutions.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed progress in rescue efforts, revealing that seven suspects have been arrested during a joint security operation carried out in Amla Forest and surrounding areas.
The operation, which involved multiple security agencies, also led to the rescue of some victims, who are currently receiving medical care. The Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, assured that efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue others still in captivity.
He further appealed to residents to assist security agencies by providing credible information that could aid the ongoing operation.
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