Gunmen Abduct Benue UTME Candidates Amid Dispute Over Technical Glitches
In a shocking incident, gunmen have abducted passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), along the Makurdi-Otukpo Road in Benue State. The attack occurred on Wednesday night, highlighting security concerns during the critical examination period.
Details of the Abduction
The victims were traveling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 p.m. by suspected bandits. According to an anonymous source, the bus was carrying about 18 passengers, mainly young men and women heading to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday. The gunmen took most of the occupants into the bush, with only the driver and one passenger managing to escape.
Benue State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, confirmed that 14 passengers were abducted, and one victim escaped. He stated that he is in Otukpo coordinating rescue operations and investigating the circumstances of the journey. Emenari noted that Benue Links management has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.
"We are on the ground to ensure the victims are rescued," the CP emphasized. Maxwell Ogiri, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, also confirmed the incident, adding that security operatives have been deployed to the area.
Technical Glitches Disrupt UTME Exams
In a separate development, the UTME exams faced significant technical difficulties in some centers, leading to a blame game between CBT center operators and JAMB officials. While the examination proceeded smoothly in some locations, others experienced disruptions, with each side attempting to shift responsibility.
At the CBT center at Skillpath International Academy in Karu, Abuja, where 4,000 out of 2.2 million candidates were expected to write the exam, candidates arrived as early as 8 a.m. but encountered malfunctioning desktops, mice, and keyboards. The first session, scheduled for 8:30 a.m., was delayed by about 15 minutes as examination questions did not appear on screens until approximately 8:45 a.m.
A CBT technician, identified simply as Nonso, blamed JAMB for the delayed start, citing similar issues during mock examinations. "Such setbacks could unsettle candidates," he lamented.
In response, Nnenna Akajemeli, JAMB General Monitor Group Representative, accused the center management of failing to ensure all systems were functional before the exam. She stressed that accredited centers must meet strict operational standards, warning that lapses could result in sanctions from the board.
Broader Implications
This incident underscores the dual challenges of security and technical reliability during national examinations in Nigeria. The abduction has raised alarms about the safety of students traveling for exams, while the technical glitches highlight ongoing infrastructure issues in the education sector.
Authorities are urged to enhance security measures on major routes and ensure CBT centers are adequately equipped to prevent future disruptions. As rescue efforts continue in Benue, the focus remains on safeguarding candidates and maintaining the integrity of the UTME process.
