- 7 herders arrested for kidnapping UTME candidates in Benue
- Alia urges JAMB to reschedule examination for rescued candidates
No fewer than 20 passengers, together with candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), had been reportedly kidnapped by sea pirates alongside the Calabar waterways on Friday.
A naval officer, who spoke on situation of anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying gunmen ambushed a passenger ferry travelling from Calabar in Cross River State to Oron in Akwa Ibom State. He mentioned the pirates struck whereas the ferry was on the waterway and whisked away the passengers at gunpoint.
Though the precise variety of kidnapped passengers couldn’t be instantly ascertained, it was gathered that most of the victims had been candidates going to take a seat for the JAMB examination in Akwa Ibom State. The Cross River State Police Command neither confirmed nor denied the incident on the time of submitting this report, whereas police spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah mentioned the Akwa Ibom State Command was higher positioned to touch upon the matter. The incident has heightened fears over the security of waterways within the area, particularly for candidates travelling for nationwide examinations.
7 suspects nabbed in Benue
In a separate however associated improvement, the Benue State Police Command arrested seven suspected militia herdsmen in reference to final Wednesday’s abduction of passengers, together with UTME candidates, aboard an 18-seater Benue Hyperlinks bus alongside the Makurdi–Otukpo freeway.
The victims, who included candidates en path to Otukpo for his or her examinations, have all regained their freedom.
Briefing Governor Hyacinth Alia whereas presenting the rescued passengers in Makurdi, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ifeanyi Emenari, mentioned the victims had been freed by way of a joint operation involving a number of safety companies.
He defined that 5 of the passengers had been earlier launched, whereas the remaining 13 had been rescued, yesterday morning.
“With the sooner launch of 5 occupants of the automobile, the remaining 13 had been rescued this morning (yesterday) unharmed,” Emenari mentioned.
He counseled Governor Alia and the Inspector-Basic of Police (IGP) for his or her assist, noting that the deployment of the IGP tactical group helped intensify stress on the abductors.
“That’s the reason we had been capable of mount stress on the bandits to make sure the victims’ secure return,” he added.Emenari disclosed that eight suspects had been at present in police custody, together with seven believed to be instantly linked to the crime.
“We have already got eight suspects in our custody, and out of this quantity, seven are suspected herdsmen bandits linked with the crime. Among the victims have been capable of determine them,” he mentioned.
He additional revealed that the command had launched particular operations throughout the state to flush out legal parts from forest hideouts, in keeping with directives from the Inspector-Basic of Police and the state authorities.
Receiving the victims, Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed concern over the rising circumstances of kidnapping in components of the state however welcomed the secure return of all 18 passengers.
“Among the many victims are eight younger individuals who had been heading to Otukpo to put in writing their examinations. On the entire, 18 individuals had been kidnapped, and I’m comfortable to listen to that they’ve all returned safely. I’m additionally happy that seven suspected herdsmen bandits have been arrested over the incident,” the governor mentioned.
Alia urged JAMB to think about rescheduling the examinations for the affected candidates to allow them take part.
He assured that the state authorities would supply essential assist to the victims and reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for legal actions.The governor additionally referred to as on residents to assist safety companies with well timed and helpful info, whereas directing the Commissioner for Well being and Human Companies to make sure that the victims obtain correct medical analysis. He added that the federal government would roll out assist packages for the rescued passengers.
Alia urges JAMB to reschedule examination for victims
In the meantime, Governor Alia has once more appealed to JAMB to reschedule the examination for eight candidates of the UTME who had been kidnapped final Wednesday.
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The victims had been kidnapped alongside the Makurdi–Otukpo street in Benue State.
Troops of the Nigerian Military later rescued the remaining victims from a forest in Okere Ward, Ohimini Native Authorities Space of the state.
Talking on the Authorities Home in Makurdi, Governor Alia mentioned 15 individuals had been initially kidnapped through the assault, however two of them later escaped.
The governor had earlier confirmed the rescue of the remaining victims within the early hours of Sunday.
“Most of the college students had been travelling to Otukpo. Seven had been common passengers, and 15 had been kidnapped that fateful day. One of many victims escaped, and one other escaped the next day,” Alia was quoted as saying.
“Right now, all of the remaining 13 kidnap victims had been rescued by 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 put in writing their examination.”
Recall that the Benue State Police Command had on Friday acknowledged that the kidnapped passengers within the Makurdi-bound industrial bus weren’t UTME candidates.
In a press release, the Police Public Relations Officer, Udeme Edet, described studies figuring out the victims as UTME candidates as “misinformation and incorrect.”
Equally, on Saturday, JAMB clarified that the kidnapped travellers weren’t UTME candidates. The board’s Public Communications Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, mentioned the victims had been en path to Makurdi for an ongoing police recruitment train and had been returning to Otukpo when the incident occurred.
How victims had been rescued
In the meantime, particulars have emerged on how the kidnapped passengers regained their freedom.
The victims, who had been kidnapped by armed males alongside the Makurdi–Otukpo street, had been launched within the early hours of Sunday after spending about three days in captivity.
It was gathered that eight of the freed passengers had been initially believed to be UTME candidates travelling to Otukpo for the examination. Nonetheless, each the Benue State Police Command and JAMB later clarified that the victims weren’t UTME candidates however had been travelling in reference to an ongoing police recruitment train.
JAMB’s Public Communications Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, mentioned the travellers had been heading to Makurdi for the recruitment train and had been returning to Otukpo once they had been attacked. Following their rescue, the victims had been evacuated for medical consideration and are at present receiving therapy on the Federal College of Well being Sciences Educating Hospital, Otukpo.
Governor Alia, who confirmed their launch in Makurdi, mentioned safety operatives, in collaboration with native communities, efficiently rescued the victims from a forest in Okere Ward, Ohimini Native Authorities Space. He mentioned 15 individuals had been initially kidnapped, including that two escaped through the ordeal.
“Most of the college students had been travelling to Otukpo. Seven had been common passengers, and 15 had been kidnapped that fateful day. One escaped the identical day, and one other escaped the next day. Right now, all of the remaining 13 victims had been rescued by safety brokers with the cooperation of the communities,” he mentioned.
He counseled the rescue operation and referred to as for continued vigilance within the space, whereas reiterating his enchantment to JAMB to reschedule examinations for any confirmed candidates affected by the incident.
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