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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has debunked viral publications involving kidnapped travellers in Benue state earlier in the week, who were alleged to have been travelling to participate in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement on Saturday afternoon, JAMB spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the kidnapped travellers were actually returning from participants in a police recruitment exercise in Otukpo, Benue state.
He said, though some of the kidnap victims have been released, it was unfortunate that many people always rush to tarnish the image of the board, without cross-checking facts.
He said: “The nation’s security agencies have once again demonstrated commendable efficiency with the successful rescue of seven of the individuals who were kidnapped while traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo.
“Initial reports wrongly identified them as candidates en route to sit for the 2026 UTME, a claim that has now been proven false.
“This development brings immense relief, as the thought of these individuals remaining in the custody of their captors was deeply distressing, we pray for the rescue of the remaining ones. Notably, none of the victims were UTME candidates.
“Rather, they were individuals who had traveled to Makurdi to participate in the ongoing police recruitment exercise and were returning to Otukpo at the time of the incident.
“It is regrettable that, in moments like this, there is a tendency to hastily malign government institutions particularly the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) without proper verification of facts. Such premature conclusions appear, at times, to be driven more by a desire to assign blame than to seek truth.
“Some individuals even attempted to link the incident to the Board’s examination schedule, despite clear inconsistencies in that narrative.
“One would expect that, in light of the facts now established, those who propagated these unfounded claims would extend a public apology to JAMB for the unwarranted damage to its reputation.
“It is important to emphasize that the victims were not examination candidates but participants in a police recruitment exercise who were returning to their base in Otukpo.
“Regardless of their identity or purpose of travel, however, no Nigerian deserves to be subjected to kidnapping. Such incidents should unite us in concern and compassion, rather than serve as an opportunity to disparage institutions.
“Even at the onset, there were clear indications that the initial narrative lacked credibility. The structure of UTME examinations makes it highly unlikely for candidates who know one another to be assigned to the same centre or to travel together for the exam. That such a flawed account gained widespread traction highlights the need for greater responsibility in information dissemination.
“As citizens, we must cultivate the discipline of verifying facts before drawing conclusions or assigning blame. Supporting our institutions in their efforts to deliver on their mandates is far more constructive than undermining them based on unverified claims.
“The Board remains committed to implementing progressive, development-driven policies that will continue to elevate its operations to global standards. It will not be deterred by unfounded criticism or the efforts of detractors.
“Finally, it is our collective hope that Nigeria’s security architecture continues to improve, ensuring that no citizen regardless of identity, purpose, or destination falls victim to such criminal acts.”
