The Benue State Police Command and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have dismissed claims that passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road on April 15 were students travelling for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Both agencies, in separate statements on Saturday, described the reports circulating on social media and some news platforms as false and misleading.
Police spokesperson, Edet Udeme, clarified that the victims were not part of any organised convoy of UTME candidates, but passengers on a commercial bus heading towards Makurdi.
“The command states that this claim is incorrect, as the victims were not confirmed to be part of any organised UTME-bound student convoy,” she said.
Similarly, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, explained that the victims were individuals who had participated in a police recruitment exercise and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident.
He criticised the spread of unverified information, noting that it had wrongly attracted public backlash against the examination body.
“It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions, particularly JAMB, without proper verification of facts,” Benjamin stated.
He further noted that linking the abduction to the UTME schedule was inconsistent with the board’s examination structure, which typically assigns candidates to centres individually, making group travel unlikely.
Despite the clarification, JAMB emphasised that the nature of the victims does not lessen the seriousness of the crime.
“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,” Benjamin added.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed that seven suspects have been arrested, while some victims have been rescued following a joint security operation in Amla Forest and surrounding areas.
According to Udeme, the operation involved multiple security agencies and focused on coordinated search-and-rescue efforts. She added that rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, assured residents that efforts to secure the release of the remaining victims are ongoing and urged members of the public to provide credible information that could aid the operation.
Authorities reiterated the need for responsible information sharing, warning that misinformation during security incidents could undermine response efforts and create unnecessary panic.
Police, JAMB Debunk UTME Link to Makurdi–Otukpo Abduction
