The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has dismissed reports suggesting that individuals recently abducted while travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo were candidates en route to sit for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement issued by its Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board clarified that investigations revealed none of the victims were UTME candidates. Instead, it stated that those abducted were participants in an ongoing police recruitment exercise who had travelled to Makurdi and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident.
JAMB’s clarification follows the successful rescue of seven of the victims by security agencies, with efforts still underway to secure the release of others held captive.
The board expressed concern over what it described as the rapid spread of unverified information linking the incident to its examination process. It criticised what it called the tendency to blame the institution without proper fact-checking.
“It is regrettable that government institutions, particularly JAMB, are often unfairly maligned in situations like this without proper verification,” the statement noted.
JAMB further argued that the initial claims lacked credibility, explaining that UTME candidates are typically assigned to various examination centres and do not usually travel in groups for the test.
The board called on those responsible for spreading the misinformation to apologise, stating that such unfounded allegations had damaged its reputation.
While reiterating that the abducted individuals were not UTME candidates, JAMB stressed that no Nigerian deserves to be kidnapped under any circumstances. It also urged the public to exercise caution, verify information before sharing, and avoid drawing premature conclusions.
JAMB reaffirmed its commitment to improving its operations, noting that it would not be distracted by what it described as baseless criticism.
