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Eight rescued Benue kidnap victims confirmed as UTME candidates

Kidnappings Verified 85% High
Makurdi, Benue, Nigeria 2026-04-15

Full Description

By Peter Duru, Makurdi Eight of the victims rescued from last Wednesday’s Benue Links bus abduction have been identified as candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The victims were among passengers on an 18-seater bus kidnapped on April 15, 2026, while traveling to Otukpo to sit for their examinations. They regained their freedom early Sunday after spending about three days in captivity. The rescued individuals, among them three girls, were brought to the Benue State Government House in Makurdi by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ifeanyi Emenari, accompanied by their parents and guardians, for official reception by Governor Hyacinth Alia. The victims appeared visibly exhausted following their ordeal. Meanwhile, documentation processes are ongoing ahead of their formal reception by the governor. The post Eight rescued Benue kidnap victims confirmed as UTME candidates appeared first on Vanguard News .

Sources

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/04/eight-rescued-benue-kidnap-victims-confirmed-as-utme-candidates/ (Vanguard Nigeria)

Duplicate Detection

  • Same type (kidnapping) reported on 2026-04-15: "All Abducted Benue Bus Passengers Freed, Seven Suspects Arrested – Police"
  • Same type (kidnapping) reported on 2026-04-15: "Armed men demand N9m for each abducted Benue bus passenger"
  • Same type (kidnapping) reported on 2026-04-15: "Kidnapped JAMB candidates: Benue bus driver arrested – Mgt"
  • Same type (kidnapping) reported on 2026-04-15: "Army rescues two kidnapped persons in Benue"

Intelligence

Historical Pattern
38
incidents in Makurdi (30 days)
Category Trend
Kidnappings: 35Killings: 3

Nearby Incidents (same area, 30 days)

All Abducted Benue Bus Passengers Freed, Seven Suspects Arrested – Police 2026-04-15
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Police Confirm Rescue Of 13 Remaining Benue Kidnap Victims 2026-04-19
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Remaining 13 Benue Links Kidnap Victims Regain Freedom 2026-04-19
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Remaining Benue bus kidnap victims rescued 2026-04-19
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Breaking: Abducted Benue JAMB candidates, others regain freedom 2026-04-19
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Outrage as family faults JAMB over denial of kidnapped Benue candidates 2026-04-16
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JAMB says kidnapped Benue travellers not UTME candidates 2026-04-18
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Armed men demand N9m for each abducted Benue bus passenger 2026-04-15
Kidnappings Verified
Benue Attack: Police arrest 7 suspects, rescue victims 2026-04-18
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JAMB debunks claim kidnapped Benue travellers were UTME candidates 2026-04-18
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