Eight victims rescued from last Wednesday’s Benue Links bus abduction have been confirmed as candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The victims were among passengers aboard an 18-seater bus attacked by kidnappers on April 15, 2026, while travelling to Otukpo to sit for their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
They regained their freedom in the early hours of Sunday after spending about three days in captivity, bringing relief to their families and raising fresh concerns over the safety of candidates during examination periods.
The rescued individuals, including three female students, were taken to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi by the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari. They were accompanied by their parents and guardians for an official reception by Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Sources indicated that the victims appeared visibly exhausted following their ordeal, reflecting the trauma associated with the abduction. Authorities have since begun documentation and preliminary procedures ahead of their formal reception by the state government.
The incident has drawn attention to the risks faced by students travelling across parts of Nigeria to participate in national examinations, particularly in regions affected by insecurity.
Security agencies are yet to provide full details on the circumstances surrounding their rescue, but efforts are said to be ongoing to track down the perpetrators and prevent future occurrences.
The development has also sparked renewed calls for improved security measures to protect candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination during the examination period, especially those who must travel long distances to reach designated centres.
As the rescued students begin to recover, stakeholders in the education and security sectors continue to stress the importance of safeguarding access to education amid persistent security challenges.
