Gunmen Abduct 17 UTME Candidates in Benue on Day One of Exams

Tragedy struck on the opening day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as gunmen abducted a group of candidates in Benue State. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, April 16, has thrown the first phase of the national exams into mourning and security panic.  

The Venue and Mode of Attack

The candidates were intercepted along the Itobi-Anyigba road, a strategic link between Benue and Kogi States. The students were reportedly traveling in a commercial bus from their various communities to their assigned Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers when the gunmen emerged from the forest and opened fire on the vehicle.

Casualties and Abductees

According to local security sources and eyewitness accounts:

Number of Abductees: While initial reports suggested 17 candidates, the Benue State Police Command has officially put the number at 14 candidates.  

Escapes: One candidate managed to escape into the bush during the chaos and eventually reached a nearby security checkpoint to report the incident.  

Casualties: No fatalities have been confirmed, but the driver of the vehicle was reportedly assaulted before the candidates were marched into the forest.

Security Response

The Benue State Commissioner of Police has ordered an immediate tactical sweep of the Itobi-Anyigba axis. A joint task force comprising the Police, Nigerian Army, and local vigilantes is currently combing the forest area to rescue the students.