The reported abduction of candidates sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State has drawn strong condemnation, with concerns raised over worsening insecurity in Nigeria and its impact on education.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, who spoke on the development, said the attack reflects deeper failures in governance and security across the country.
This is as the former Anambra State governor stressed that young Nigerians pursuing education are increasingly being exposed to danger, at a time when access to higher education in the country remains limited.
“The news of the abduction of innocent UTME candidates in Benue State is not just heartbreaking but a damning indictment of the failure of leadership and the collapse of security in our nation.”
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“Young Nigerians striving for an education are being met with terror. In a country where the share of tertiary graduates is already painfully low (about 1%), which is far below peers like Indonesia (about 13%) and South Africa (around 10%).
“This is unacceptable. We cannot afford to lose even one more student to violence.”
“Those entrusted with protecting these young students appear increasingly preoccupied with the next election, projecting strength and power to rig elections, rather than deploying that same power and agencies to secure our roads, prevent these crimes, and rescue the abducted children who should not be in the hands of criminals but in examination halls.”
Obi criticised what he described as misplaced priorities among those in authority, accusing them of focusing more on political interests than public safety.
He stressed that such incidents are no longer isolated but part of a troubling trend requiring immediate intervention.
“This is no longer an isolated tragedy. It is a pattern. It is a national crisis. And it demands urgent, decisive, and responsible action, not excuses, not silence, but leadership that matches the scale of the emergency this deserves.”
He further warned of the long-term consequences of failing to protect young citizens.
“A nation that abandons its youth abandons its future. This cannot continue.”
Reiterating his call for change, he concluded:
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
