GOV. ALIA SEEKS FRESH UTME DATE FOR KIDNAPPED BENUE STUDENTS. (PHOTO).

 GOVERNOR ALIA SEEKS FRESH UTME DATE FOR KIDNAPPED BENUE STUDENTS 

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to reschedule the UTME for eight candidates who were abducted last week but later rescued.

The appeal follows the successful rescue of 13 victims kidnapped along the Taraku–Otukpo axis.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Sunday appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to reschedule the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for eight candidates who were kidnapped last week in the state.

The governor made the appeal while receiving 13 rescued victims at the Old Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi in the early hours of Sunday.

According to Alia, the affected candidates were among passengers travelling along the Taraku–Otukpo road when suspected kidnappers attacked their vehicle last Wednesday night.

He explained that 18 passengers were on board a Benue Links bus at the time of the incident, out of which 15 were abducted. One victim reportedly escaped on the day of the incident, while another regained freedom the following day.

“Many of the students were travelling to Otukpo. Seven were regular passengers, and 15 were kidnapped that fateful day,” the governor said.

“Today, all the remaining 13 kidnap victims were rescued by security agents with the cooperation of local communities.”

Describing the affected UTME candidates as “victims of circumstance,” Alia urged JAMB authorities to make special consideration for them.

“I call on JAMB to look into the case of the eight young students and reschedule dates for them to write their examination,” he added.

The governor also directed the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, to ensure that all rescued victims are taken to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi for medical examination and treatment before being reunited with their families.

The incident adds to growing concerns over security challenges affecting travellers and students in parts of Benue State, particularly along the Taraku–Otukpo corridor.