Tension has gripped parts of Benue State following the abduction of 14 passengers, including candidates sitting for the ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations, along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.
The victims were reportedly travelling in a commercial bus when armed men intercepted the vehicle and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over the safety of candidates amid the nationwide examination exercise.
Police authorities in the state have since confirmed the development, assuring that a coordinated rescue operation is underway to secure the safe release of the abducted victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The abduction comes just days after JAMB announced heightened security measures across Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide, aimed at ensuring a hitch-free and credible examination process.
Ahead of the examinations, security presence was significantly reinforced at accredited centres, with the deployment of security personnel, installation of surveillance systems, and implementation of stricter candidate verification protocols.
JAMB officials disclosed that the enhanced measures were necessitated by rising concerns over examination malpractice, including impersonation and cyber fraud, which have threatened the integrity of the testing system in recent years.
Under the new regime, candidates are subjected to rigorous biometric screening before being admitted into examination halls.
In several centres, security operatives also conduct physical checks, while monitoring teams oversee activities in real time from designated control rooms.
A spokesperson for the examination body reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, warning that violators would face immediate disqualification and possible prosecution.
“We are committed to maintaining the credibility of our examinations. These measures are part of a broader strategy to restore public confidence in the system,” the official stated.
Despite the tighter security arrangements improving orderliness in many centres, reports indicate that candidates are now required to arrive much earlier than scheduled, often leading to longer queues.
Parents and education stakeholders have largely welcomed the development, describing it as a necessary step towards promoting merit and fairness in Nigeria’s education sector.
Meanwhile, security agencies have reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with examination bodies to ensure that CBT centres across the country remain safe and free from disruption, even as efforts intensify to rescue the abducted candidates in Benue.
