The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has denied reports that candidates traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo to sit for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were kidnapped.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Board clarified that none of the victims were UTME candidates.
According to him, the individuals involved had traveled to Makurdi to participate in an ongoing police recruitment exercise and were returning to Otukpo when they were abducted.
JAMB commended security agencies for their swift response, which led to the successful rescue of seven of the victims.
Benjamin described the development as a relief, while expressing hope that those still in captivity would be freed soon.
He expressed concern over what he described as the premature spread of misinformation, noting that the incident was wrongly linked to the Board’s examination process.
According to him, some reports unfairly blamed JAMB without proper verification of facts.
The spokesman stressed that early claims suggesting the victims were UTME candidates lacked credibility, pointing out that examination arrangements typically make it unlikely for candidates who know each other to be assigned the same centre or travel together.
He urged the public to exercise caution and verify information before drawing conclusions, emphasizing that misinformation can damage the reputation of institutions.
Benjamin added that, regardless of the victims’ identity, no Nigerian deserves to be subjected to kidnapping, calling for collective concern and support rather than blame.
JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high standards in its operations and stated that it would not be distracted by what it described as unfounded criticism.
The Board also expressed hope for continued improvements in Nigeria’s security system to better protect citizens.
