Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia has tasked the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to make special arrangements for the eight students affected by last week’s abduction along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.
Governor Alia, who made the demand on Sunday, April 19, 2026, shortly after security operatives confirmed the rescue of all remaining victims that were abducted, said it would be proper for JAMB to give consideration to the request.
Gunmen had last week Wednesday night intercepted a commercial bus heading to Otukpo from Makurdi and abducted passengers that included students travelling to sit for the UTME examinations.
While some victims successfully escaped in the days that followed, the remaining were freed in a coordinated operation by security forces with support from local communities.
Speaking on the incident, Governor Alia noted that two of the victims managed to regain freedom before the rescue operation.
Alia said; “Today, all the remaining victims have been rescued by security agents with the cooperation of the communities. Several of those on the bus were young people heading towards Otukpo”.
The Governor therefore appealed to JAMB to as a matter of national interest and concern, consider the circumstances of the affected candidates.
Alia said; “I call on JAMB to look into the case of the eight young students and reschedule dates for them to write their examination”.
The Governor’s appeal comes amid conflicting accounts over the status of the passengers as the Police Command in Benue State had earlier dismissed claims that those abducted were candidates of the UTME, stating that such reports were inaccurate.
Similarly, JAMB declared that the travellers were not registered candidates for its scheduled examination, stating that they were returning from a police recruitment exercise in Makurdi at the time of the incident.
However, Governor Alia insisted that the kidnap victims deserved consideration, given the disruption caused by the attack.
