Fourteen kidnapped travellers, including eight candidates of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, have been rescued by security operatives following a forest operation in Benue State, with the state governor now calling on JAMB to reschedule their examinations.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, speaking at Government House in Makurdi on Sunday, confirmed that 15 persons were kidnapped along the Makurdi Otukpo road last Wednesday, with two escaping earlier and the remaining 13 rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army with support from local communities.

"Today, all the remaining 13 kidnap victims were rescued by the security agents with the cooperation of the communities," Alia stated, adding: "I call on JAMB to look into the case of the eight young students and reschedule dates for them to write their examination."

Troops of Joint Task Force Sector One, Operation Udo Ka, carried out the rescue operation in Orokam Forest, located between Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State. Acting on intelligence from residents about suspicious movements linked to a suspected kidnap cell, the joint team, which included local vigilante personnel, advanced into the forest at approximately 1.30 p.m. on Friday.

Armed men opened fire on the approaching team, but the operatives responded immediately, forcing the criminals to scatter into the bush and abandon their captives. The team withdrew at approximately 7.21 p.m., with no troop casualties recorded. About 70 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were expended during the exchange.

All rescued victims were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in Udenu for documentation and reunification with their families.

Accounts from authorities remained divided on the identity of the victims. JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin maintained that the travellers had been returning from a police recruitment exercise in Makurdi, while the Benue State Police Command described reports identifying them as examination candidates as incorrect. Governor Alia's appeal to JAMB, however, effectively confirmed the presence of the eight students among those rescued.