Gunmen have abducted a group of candidates travelling to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State, raising fresh concerns about security in the region.
According to local accounts, the victims were travelling to their designated examination centre in a vehicle when the gunmen ambushed them along the route, forcing them into captivity. The attack disrupted their examination plans and left families and communities in distress.
Authorities have yet to provide full details on the identities of the victims or the exact circumstances surrounding the abduction, but security agencies are said to have been alerted, and efforts are ongoing to secure their release.
The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in parts of Benue and the wider North-Central region, where cases of abduction and attacks on civilians continue to be reported.
As of the time of reporting, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, and officials have not confirmed whether contact has been made with the kidnappers.
