By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to reschedule the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for eight candidates who were recently abducted and later rescued in the state.
The appeal was made on April 19, 2026, following the successful rescue of victims kidnapped along the Makurdi–Otukpo road, where gunmen had attacked a commercial bus conveying passengers, including students heading to sit for the examination.
According to the governor, security operatives, in collaboration with local communities, secured the release of the victims after days of coordinated operations.
He stated, “I call on JAMB to look into the case of the eight young students and reschedule dates for them to write their examination.”
Reports indicate that the victims were among passengers abducted on April 15 when armed men intercepted a Benue Links bus, taking several occupants into the bush before rescue efforts were intensified.
The incident had earlier raised nationwide concern over the safety of students travelling for national examinations, especially in areas prone to insecurity.
Analytically, the governor’s request highlights a critical intersection between education and security in Nigeria, where disruptions caused by violence increasingly threaten equal access to academic opportunities and the integrity of national assessment systems.
Leave a Reply