The Benue State Authorities and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are making conflicting claims over the identification of people not too long ago rescued after a kidnapping on the Makurdi-Otukpo street.
The governor of the state, Fr. Hyacinth Alia on Sunday urged JAMB to reschedule examination dates for eight of the kidnapped victims whom he mentioned have been Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates, whereas the Board maintains that none of these rescued have been its candidates.
Alia made the decision when he hosted the remaining 13 kidnap victims who have been rescued within the early hours of Sunday on the Previous Banquet Corridor, Authorities Home, Makurdi, describing them as victims of circumstances who should not be uncared for.
He mentioned lots of the college students have been travelling to Otukpo, noting that seven have been common passengers and 15 have been kidnapped that fateful day, with one of many victims escaping that day and one other escaping the next day.
The governor defined that 18 passengers, together with UTME candidates, have been travelling to Otukpo final Wednesday evening after they have been kidnapped by gunmen round 8 pm between Taraku and Otukpo in Gwer East and Otukpo LGAs of the state respectively, including that the candidates had deliberate to spend the evening in Otukpo earlier than their early examination interval as a result of their examination centre was in Otukpo, about 105 kilometres from Makurdi, however have been kidnapped a couple of kilometres from Otukpo.
“As we speak, all of the remaining 13 kidnap victims have been rescued by the safety brokers with the cooperation of the communities.
“I name on JAMB to look into the case of the eight younger college students and reschedule dates for them to write down their examination,” the governor mentioned.
Alia mentioned all of the remaining 13 kidnap victims have been rescued by safety brokers with the cooperation of the communities and directed the state Commissioner for Well being and Human Providers, Dr Paul Ogwuche, to take the victims to the State College Instructing Hospital in Makurdi for correct medical check-up and therapy earlier than handing them over to their households.
He applauded the Inspector-Basic of Police, Olatunji Disu, and all of the heads of safety businesses within the state for his or her efforts in rescuing the victims, recalling that safety operatives within the state have proven super diligence within the discharge of their duties, rescuing a number of kidnap victims throughout the state previously.
Alia confirmed that seven suspects have been arrested over the newest kidnapping and urged safety brokers to rid ungoverned areas of prison parts throughout the state, insisting that the folks need to stay in peace.
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Police, Ifeanyi Emenari, mentioned the victims have been freed by means of the joint efforts of all safety businesses working with the communities.