UTME Candidates Kidnapped in Benue State Rescued

Eight candidates preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were kidnapped on the Taraku-Otukpo road in Benue State. The incident occurred on a Sunday evening when gunmen attacked their vehicle.

The victims endured four days of captivity, during which they were subjected to severe beatings and fed only garri and salt. One victim, 18-year-old Gbenga Daniel, reported being dispossessed of 8,000 naira and tortured.

The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of 10 million naira per victim, but eventually accepted 3 to 4 million naira along with supplies worth 33,000 naira. The Nigerian Police Force coordinated a rescue operation that involved multiple security agencies, leading to the victims' release.

Following their rescue, the governor of Benue State received the victims and confirmed their medical check-ups. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) denied the candidates' request to sit for the examination, citing their participation in a police recruitment exercise at the time of the abduction.