Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has formally appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to grant a rescheduling of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for eight students who were recently rescued from kidnappers.
The Governor made this plea on Sunday at the Government House in Makurdi while receiving 13 of the rescued victims following their release earlier that morning.
Describing the students as victims of unfortunate circumstances, Governor Alia emphasized that they should not be academically penalized for an ordeal beyond their control.
He revealed that 15 passengers were originally abducted last Wednesday night along the Taraku–Otukpo route while traveling in a Benue Links bus.
According to the Governor, while two individuals managed to escape shortly after the abduction, the remaining 13 were successfully recovered through a joint operation between security forces and local communities.
“I call on JAMB to look into the case of these eight young students and provide them with new dates to sit for their examinations,” the Governor stated.
To ensure their well-being, he directed the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, to oversee their medical evaluation at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital before they are reunited with their families.
Alia also commended the security agencies for their efficiency, noting that seven suspects have already been apprehended in connection with the kidnapping.
He urged security forces to remain relentless in their operations, asserting that the people of Benue deserve to live without the fear of criminal elements.
The Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed that the rescue was the result of a coordinated effort involving multiple security agencies and local intelligence.
The incident highlights a point of contention with JAMB, which had previously claimed that no candidates were among the victims. This stance was criticized by relatives of the students, who accused the board of failing to verify the identities of the travelers before issuing a disclaimer.
