Abuja, Nigeria – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has debunked recent reports suggesting that 15 candidates traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State to Okigwe, Imo State, for their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were kidnapped.
In an official statement released via its Twitter handle, @JAMBHQ, the Board described the reports—initially circulated by social media user @uchePokoye—as false and misleading. JAMB clarified that the candidates had arranged a group vehicle to convey them to their examination center in Okigwe. However, their vehicle broke down in an area without mobile network coverage, which prevented them from seeking help immediately.
According to the Imo State Police Command, all the affected candidates have since safely reunited with their families. JAMB criticized the initial report, stating that the original publisher failed to issue a correction after the facts were verified.
“The questions we are raising as an agency are: Of all the exam towns in Anambra State, why did the candidates opt for examination centers in Imo State? And why was a group transport arrangement necessary?” JAMB stated.
Public Reactions Trail JAMB’s Clarification
The clarification has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
Ajayi Oladayo questioned the safety of such exam postings, stating, “Why would students be deployed to such an area in the first place? This is still an indictment that JAMB is endangering many teenagers.”
Another user, Chibuzo, defended JAMB, noting, “JAMB centers are grouped into zones. Candidates choose a zone of convenience, and they are then posted to any center within that zone.”
However, others demanded further accountability. One commenter asked, “So again I ask, why post those candidates to centers outside the state? Is it that Anambra does not have enough centers or you guys don’t have much time? Why the rush to wrap up your mistakes? Kai, you guys have not only failed Nigeria but the future of this country.”
JAMB has yet to respond to the growing online criticism but maintained that the safety of all candidates remains a top priority.
