Gunmen Abduct 14 JAMB Candidates in Benue State

On April 15, 2026, between 7-8 PM, gunmen kidnapped 14 candidates traveling to take the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in Otukpo, Benue State. The assailants ambushed the group, which included 18 young men and women, as they traveled along the Benue-Burnt Brinks road.

Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers robbed passengers before retreating into a nearby forest. Princ Maxwel Ogiri, the Executive Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, confirmed the incident, while Ifeanyi Emenari, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, noted that two individuals, a driver and a passenger, managed to escape.

Emenari stated that security operations are underway to rescue the victims, who are primarily young boys and girls. The incident highlights the ongoing insecurity in the region, where night travel is discouraged due to safety concerns.

Benu Link, the transport company involved, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack.