The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has debunked reports claiming that recently abducted travellers along the Otukpo–Makurdi Road in Benue State were candidates participating in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement issued on Saturday, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, clarified that the victims were not students but individuals involved in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to their base in Otukpo at the time of the incident.
Benjamin criticised the rapid spread of misinformation linking the victims to the ongoing UTME, describing it as a premature and damaging narrative against the Board. He noted that such conclusions often stem from a rush to assign blame rather than verify facts.
“It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions without proper verification,” he stated, adding that those who circulated the false claims should offer a public apology for the reputational damage caused to JAMB.
The Board also commended security agencies for their swift response, which led to the successful rescue of seven of the kidnapped individuals. It expressed hope that the remaining victims would be freed soon.
JAMB emphasised that regardless of the victims’ identities, no Nigerian deserves to be subjected to kidnapping, urging citizens to respond to such incidents with unity and compassion rather than misinformation.
Reaffirming its commitment to excellence, the Board stated it would continue implementing progressive policies aimed at enhancing its operations to meet global standards.
