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The Nigerian Universities Admission Examination Body, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has refuted the allegation that prospective universities candidates were abducted on Makurdi -Otukpo road.
There were media reports that candidates for universities examination were abducted during the current 2026 UTME exercise.
According to the JAMB Director of Communication, Mr Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D., the Nigerian 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.
“Notably, none of the victims were UTME candidates. Rather, they were individuals who had travelled to Makurdi to participate in the ongoing police recruitment exercise and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident”. He said .
Immense Relief and Need for Truth
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.
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.
Even at the onset, there were clear indications that the initial narrative lacked credibility. 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.
Citizens Must Cultivate Discipline
As citizens, we must 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.
Commitment
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.
Commendation
It is our collective hope that Nigeria’s security architecture continues to improve, ensuring that no citizen regardless of identity, purpose, or destination falls victim to such criminal acts.
Source- PR/JAMB
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