Fresh details have emerged following the rescue of passengers abducted from a Benue Links bus, with at least eight of the victims now confirmed to be candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The victims were reportedly on their way to Otukpo to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) when they were kidnapped by gunmen last Wednesday night.
The attack occurred on April 15, 2026, when armed assailants intercepted a state-owned Benue Links vehicle transporting passengers along a major route in the state. Several travellers, including young students, were forcefully taken into captivity during the incident.
After spending about three days in the hands of their abductors, the victims regained their freedom in the early hours of Sunday. Details surrounding their release remain unclear, including whether a ransom was paid.
Among those rescued were three female UTME candidates, highlighting the vulnerability of students traveling for national examinations in parts of the country facing security challenges.
The victims were subsequently taken to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi by the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari. They were accompanied by their parents and guardians for an official reception.
At the Government House, Governor Hyacinth Alia received the rescued passengers as part of efforts to reassure the public and demonstrate the state government’s response to the incident.
Observers noted that the victims appeared visibly weak and shaken after their ordeal, as officials commenced documentation and briefing processes ahead of formal engagement with the state authorities.
The revelation that some of the abducted passengers were UTME candidates contradicts earlier statements from authorities, which suggested that none of those kidnapped were examination-bound students.
This development has raised questions about the accuracy of initial reports and the broader security situation affecting candidates traveling for critical national exams.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by Nigerians, particularly students, who must travel across states to participate in examinations like the UTME.
Security experts have repeatedly called for improved protection along major highways and special arrangements to ensure the safety of candidates during nationwide examinations.