By Ngozi Nwankwo
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB has clarified that the
individuals who were kidnapped while traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo, Benue State, were not 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, candidates.
JAMB, in a statement said the initial reports wrongly identified them as candidates en route to sit for the 2026 UTME, a claim that has now been proven false.
The Board said this while commending the nation’s security agencies for the successful rescue of seven of the individuals who were kidnapped while traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo.
It said, “The nation’s security agencies have once again demonstrated commendable efficiency with the successful rescue of seven of the individuals who were kidnapped while traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo.
“Initial reports wrongly identified them as candidates en route to sit for the 2026 UTME, a claim that has now been proven false.
“This development brings immense relief, as the thought of these individuals remaining in the custody of their captors was deeply distressing, we pray for the rescue of the remaining ones. Notably, none of the victims were UTME candidates. Rather, they were individuals who had traveled to Makurdi to participate in the ongoing police recruitment exercise and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident.
It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions particularly the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board,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. Some individuals even attempted to link the incident to the Board’s examination schedule, despite clear inconsistencies in that narrative.
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.
“It is important to emphasize that the victims were not examination candidates but participants in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to their base in Otukpo. Regardless of their identity or purpose of travel, however, 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.”
JAMB, therefore, urged Nigerians to cultivate the discipline of verifying facts before drawing conclusions or assigning blame.
” Supporting our institutions in their efforts to deliver on their mandates is far more constructive than undermining them based on unverified claims.
” The Board remains committed to implementing progressive, development-driven policies that will continue to elevate its operations to global standards. It will not be deterred by unfounded criticism or the efforts of detractors,” the Board said.
