Former presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the reported kidnapping of candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Benue State. In a statement posted on his verified social media account on Friday, he described the incident as "heartbreaking" and a "damning indictment of the failure of leadership and the collapse of security" in Nigeria. Obi warned that the violence against young Nigerians seeking education could further depress the country's already low tertiary graduation rate, which he said stands at about one per cent, versus roughly 13 per cent in Indonesia and around 10 per cent in South Africa. He accused security authorities of prioritising political interests over student safety and cautioned that the abduction is not an isolated tragedy but part of a broader national crisis. Obi called for urgent, decisive action and for leaders to move beyond rhetoric to protect the nation's youth.
The kidnapping highlights a serious security threat to UTME candidates in Benue. Students and parents should press authorities to deploy immediate protection measures at examination centres and hold officials accountable for safeguarding them.
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