Gunmen Abduct UTME Candidates in Benue
In Benue State, reports of UTME candidates being abducted on their way to write exams have sparked fear, anger, and urgent conversations about student safety across the country.
Gunmen Abduct UTME Candidates in Benue
What was meant to be an unforgettable enjoyable moments for students has not turned to a nightmare as one of the most disturbing news has broken out once again.
Reports claim that several candidates have been abducted on their way to their 2026 UTME examination by gunmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State. According to multiple accounts, the victims were passengers on a commercial bus when armed men intercepted the vehicle and forcefully took them into the bush. Many of those on board were said to be students travelling to write JAMB exmas.
While early reports claimed that as many as 17 candidates were kidnapped, more consistent updates suggest that about 14 people were actually taken. In the middle of the chaos, a few managed to escape—offering the only glimmer of hope in an otherwise terrifying situation.
Authorities have since launched rescue operations, with security agencies to track down the attackers and rescue the victims. Millions of students travel across states to sit for the UTME every year. The experience is already stressful enough, there is no reason why the safety of the lives also has too been questioned.
This incident is more than just another headline. It’s a painful reminder of the risks ordinary Nigerians face daily, even in pursuit of something as fundamental as education.
This is not just a story that should be swept under the rug because no student should have to risk their life just to write an exam.
Source: TrendyBeatz
