The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to reschedule a new date for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for eight candidates who were kidnapped last Wednesday.
Alia made the appeal on Sunday at the Government House in Makurdi, where he received 15 rescued victims of the kidnapping, including the eight UTME candidates.
“I invite you to please have them scheduled to write this JAMB of theirs, send the date; we are willing in the state to take care of the rest of it,” he said.
]]>
On April 15, gunmen stopped a Benue Links bus along the Benue Burnt Bricks area in Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, robbed passengers, and whisked several of them into the bush.
Among the victims were eight UTME candidates who were travelling to Otukpo for their examinations.
READ ALSO: All Abducted Benue Bus Passengers Freed, Seven Suspects Arrested – Police
Security operatives later launched a coordinated search across nearby states, leading to the rescue of all 18 kidnapped victims.
The police confirmed that the remaining 15 victims were freed on Sunday after the operation, following the initial escape of three others.
The Benue State Commissioner of Police also announced the arrest of seven suspects linked to the incident, describing it as a “breakthrough in the investigation.”
According to him, the arrests were made through intelligence-led efforts, with the suspects currently in custody.
The rescued victims are expected to receive medical attention as investigations continue.