Nigeria, April 18 -- The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that individuals recently kidnapped in Benue State were not candidates of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), contrary to earlier reports.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the board said the victims, who were abducted while travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo, had been "erroneously alleged to be UTME candidates."

The clarification follows days of reports suggesting that the victims were candidates travelling to sit for the UTME.

Gunmen had attacked a commercial bus along the Makurdi-Otukpo road on Wednesday night, abducting about 14 passengers after stopping the vehicle and forcing occupants into nearby bus...