The Benue State Police Command and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have clarified that the passengers abducted along the Makurdi–Otukpo Road on April 15 were not UTME candidates en route for the 2026 examination, as earlier reported in some quarters.
Both institutions issued separate statements on Saturday, distancing the victims from claims that they were students travelling for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Udeme, the abducted individuals were not part of any verified group of UTME candidates but were ordinary passengers in a bus heading to Makurdi.
“The command states that this claim is incorrect, as the victims were not confirmed to be part of any organised UTME-bound student convoy, but passengers in a Makurdi-bound bus,” the statement read.
JAMB, in its reaction through its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, further explained that the victims were actually participants in an ongoing police recruitment exercise who were returning to Otukpo when the attack occurred.
He criticised the spread of inaccurate reports linking the incident to the examination body, describing it as damaging and misleading.
Benjamin urged those responsible for the claims to retract them and apologise.
“It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions, particularly 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,” the statement read.
He also noted that some individuals attempted to associate the incident with the UTME schedule despite clear inconsistencies in such assertions.
“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,” he said.
Benjamin further explained that the structure of the UTME makes it highly unlikely for candidates familiar with one another to be assigned to the same centres or travel together.
“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,” the statement read.
He added that regardless of who the victims were, the incident remained a serious criminal act that should be met with collective concern rather than blame directed at institutions.
“Regardless of their identity or purpose of travel, 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,” he said.
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Benjamin also called for greater caution in public communication, stressing the importance of verifying information before drawing conclusions.
He reaffirmed JAMB’s commitment to strengthening its operations and resisting what he described as unjust criticism.
“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,” Benjamin said.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed that seven suspects have been arrested and some victims rescued during a coordinated security operation in Amla Forest and surrounding areas.
DSP Udeme said the operation involved multiple security agencies conducting a targeted search-and-rescue effort. Although she did not specify the number of rescued victims, she noted that they were receiving medical care.
The Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, assured that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of remaining victims and appealed to the public to share credible information to assist the operation.