Alia Calls on JAMB to Postpone Exams for Abducted University Entrance Applicants

Benes Gov, Rev. Hyacinth Alia, the Governor of Benue State, has made a plea to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to reschedule the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for eight candidates who were kidnapped and later rescued.

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This appeal was made on Sunday during a meeting with 13 rescued victims at the Government House in Makurdi, following their release earlier that day.

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According to Alia, the affected students are victims of circumstance who should not be penalized as a result of the incident, and he is seeking JAMB's assistance in this matter.

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Alia recounted that many of the students were traveling to Otukpo, with seven being regular passengers, and 15 were kidnapped on that fateful day, while one victim escaped and another followed the next day.

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He stated that all 13 remaining kidnap victims were rescued by security agents with the help of local communities, and he urged JAMB to consider rescheduling the examination for the eight affected students.

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The governor explained that 15 out of 18 passengers on a Benue Links bus were abducted last Wednesday night along the Taraku–Otukpo route, which spans Gwer East and Otukpo local government areas.

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Alia directed the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, to provide medical attention to the victims at the state university teaching hospital in Makurdi before they are reunited with their families.

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The governor commended the security agencies for their role in the rescue operation and urged them to continue their efforts to combat kidnapping across the state.

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He disclosed that seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident and called on authorities to increase their efforts against criminal elements, emphasizing that the people of Benue deserve to live in peace.

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Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, attributed the successful rescue to the joint efforts of security agencies and local communities.

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The victims, including UTME candidates, were reportedly traveling to Otukpo to take their examination when they were abducted by gunmen.

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Notably, JAMB had previously stated that none of its candidates were among those kidnapped, but a relative of one of the victims criticized this position, accusing the board of failing to properly verify the situation before issuing its statement.