Eight students who were set to sit the JAMB examination in Benue State and were among 15 passengers abducted last Wednesday have been safely rescued.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, confirmed their release on Sunday during a joint briefing with the Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, at the Government House in Makurdi.
According to the governor, a total of 17 persons were initially kidnapped along the Taraku–Otukpo road, but two managed to escape shortly after the abduction, leaving 15 victims in captivity until they were later rescued and unharmed.
Governor Alia appealed to JAMB to make special provisions for the rescued candidates to ensure they are not denied the opportunity to sit for their examinations. He also directed that all the victims receive free medical attention and instructed the Ministry of Education to provide necessary support for their academic recovery and continuity.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed the arrest of eight suspects in connection with the incident. The Commissioner of Police stated that credible intelligence links seven of them directly to the kidnapping and to other related crimes in the area.
