Alia seeks exam shift as rescued UTME candidates narrate ordeal

The Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to reschedule the examination for eight UTME candidates following their ordeal at the hands of kidnappers.

Alia made the appeal on Sunday while hosting the victims at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, describing them as victims of circumstance who should not be neglected.

He said, “Many of the students were travelling to Otukpo. Seven were regular passengers; 15 were kidnapped that fateful day. One of the victims escaped, and another escaped the following day.

“Today, all the remaining 13 kidnapped victims have been rescued by security agents with the cooperation of the communities. I call on JAMB to look into the case of the eight young students and reschedule dates for them to write their examination.”

The governor explained that 15 out of the 18 passengers on board the Benue Links bus were kidnapped last Wednesday night between Taraku and Otukpo in the Gwer East and Otukpo Local Government Areas of the state.

He also directed the State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, to take the victims to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, for proper medical examination and treatment before they are reunited with their families.

Alia commended the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and heads of other security agencies in the state for their efforts in rescuing the victims, noting that security operatives had shown diligence in tackling kidnapping across the state.

While confirming that seven suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, the governor urged security agencies to intensify efforts to flush out criminal elements in ungoverned areas.

“Our people deserve to live in peace,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the eight kidnapped UTME candidates, Jessica Akor, narrated her ordeal, revealing that the abductors threatened to kill them if a ransom of N10 million was not paid.

Akor’s account comes amid a denial by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which, in a statement issued on Saturday, said none of its candidates was among those abducted.

Some UTME candidates, along with other passengers, were reportedly kidnapped last Wednesday night in Otukpo, Benue State.

Speaking to PUNCH Metro on Sunday, Akor said she left Makurdi on Wednesday evening to sit for her UTME scheduled for 6 a.m. on Thursday.

According to her, the ill-fated vehicle departed Makurdi at about 6pm and was intercepted by armed men near Otukpo at around 8 p.m.

Narrating her experience, she said, “On 15 April, I left Makurdi at about 6 p.m. for Otukpo, where I was scheduled to write JAMB by 6am.

“At about 8pm, I did not know our exact location, but our bus began to show signs of breaking down. Some men stopped the vehicle and ordered all of us to come down. Some passengers were reluctant, and they hit me on my lap before I came down.”

She added that the armed men took them into the bush and held them there until about 2 a.m., when they were allowed to rest briefly.

“The next day at about 4 a.m., they woke us up and took us to a lake where their cattle also drink from. We drank from it because we were very thirsty.

“They kept changing our location, and we kept walking long distances as they flogged us. It was on Thursday evening, around 7 p.m., that they gave us our phones to call our parents and demanded a ransom of N10 million for each of us.

“They warned that if our parents did not pay the ransom, they would kill all of us. Anytime we were hungry, they would give us gari mixed with salt,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to God and security operatives for their rescue, commending their efforts and commitment.

Akor is among the 13 abducted passengers who were later rescued by combined security operatives.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed the development in a text message on Sunday morning, stating that the rescued victims would soon be brought to Makurdi.

“Yes, we’re planning a news conference this morning when they arrive in Makurdi,” the CP said.

He had earlier disclosed on Friday that five of the victims had been rescued, leaving 13 still in captivity at the time.