Benue bus kidnap: Family slams JAMB over ‘No Candidate’ claim, demands accountability

By Benedicta Aboh

The family of one of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) candidates abducted on Wednesday by suspected armed herdsmen along the Makurdi–Otukpo route has criticised the examination body for denying that any candidates were among the victims.

The victim’s relative, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, described JAMB’s position as “shocking, insensitive, and far from the truth,” insisting that most of the passengers on the ill-fated Benue Links bus were candidates travelling to sit for their examinations.

“My nephew was in that vehicle, and he was going to Otukpo to write his JAMB examination,” he said. “In fact, the majority of the people in that vehicle were JAMB candidates.

There were only a few passengers who were not going for the exam. That is why they were in a rush to get to Otukpo that evening, they had examinations very early the next day.”

He questioned JAMB’s denial, saying, “I don’t understand why JAMB would claim that there were no candidates in the vehicle. That statement is not only incorrect, it is deeply troubling.”

The family also blamed the examination body’s posting system for exposing candidates to unnecessary risks, arguing that the practice of assigning centres far from candidates’ places of residence contributed to the incident.

“These things point to the inadequacies of an organisation like JAMB,” he said. “How can you send people long distances to write an exam? Do you know that some candidates are posted from Makurdi to as far as Jalingo?

"Nobody is saying JAMB carried out the kidnapping, but they must take responsibility for posting candidates to distant locations.”

He continued, “They posted people from Makurdi to Otukpo, and this incident happened. If those candidates had not been sent there, this situation might have been avoided. Are they also saying no one travelled from Makurdi to Otukpo for the exam?

"I personally know several people, including my neighbours, who made that trip because JAMB sent them.”

Expressing frustration over what he described as JAMB’s lack of empathy, the relative said the focus should have been on supporting the victims and their families rather than disputing their status.

“What is important right now?” he asked. “Young people have been abducted by armed men, and instead of showing concern or sympathy, they are busy arguing about whether the victims were candidates. That is insensitive and unacceptable.”

Providing further details, he added, “My nephew’s examination was scheduled for April 16, 2026, so they left on April 15. I know this because I personally paid for his form. That bus had more candidates than other passengers.”

He urged JAMB to reconsider its stance and show compassion, saying, “They may argue that they did not arrange the transportation, but these were individuals travelling for an exam organised by JAMB. That alone should warrant some responsibility.”

“I advise JAMB to retract that statement and extend sympathy to the victims and their families,” he added. “What families are going through right now is painful, and dismissing their reality only makes it worse.”