The Benue State Police Command and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have dismissed claims that passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road were students travelling to sit for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Both agencies issued separate statements to counter widespread reports circulating across news platforms and social media, which alleged that the victims were UTME candidates.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, clarified that there was no evidence linking the abducted individuals to any examination-related movement.
“The command states that this claim is incorrect, as the victims were not confirmed to be part of any organised UTME-bound student convoy, but passengers in a Makurdi-bound bus,” Udeme said.
JAMB also refuted the narrative, stressing that the victims were participants in an ongoing police recruitment exercise who were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident.
JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, criticised the spread of unverified information, noting that it had subjected the board to unwarranted public backlash.
“It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions, particularly 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,” he said.
Benjamin added that some individuals had attempted to link the abduction to the UTME schedule despite clear inconsistencies.
“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,” he added.
He further explained that the structure of UTME examinations makes it unlikely for candidates to travel together to the same centre.
“The structure of UTME examinations makes it highly unlikely for candidates who know one another to be assigned to the same centre or to travel together for the exam. That such a flawed account gained widespread traction highlights the need for greater responsibility in information dissemination,” Benjamin stated.
Despite the clarification, JAMB emphasised that the gravity of the crime remained unchanged.
“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,” he said.
Benjamin urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing, adding that constructive engagement with public institutions was more beneficial than spreading unverified claims.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed progress in rescue operations, revealing that seven suspects had been arrested following a coordinated security operation in Amla Forest and surrounding areas.
Udeme said the multi-agency effort led to the rescue of some victims, who are currently receiving medical attention, although the exact number was not disclosed.
The Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, assured residents that efforts to rescue the remaining victims were ongoing and called on the public to provide credible and timely information to aid the operation.
