15 Missing JAMB Candidates in Imo State Found Safe – Police

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed that all 15 students who were initially reported missing after traveling from Onitsha to Imo State for their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination have been safely located.

The students, from Eminent Scholars Imperial Academy in Onitsha, Anambra State, embarked on their journey to sit for the JAMB exam at a Computer-Based Test (CBT) center in the Okigwe Zone of Imo State on May 16. They successfully completed the exam but ran into trouble on their return trip when their school bus broke down in Amuro, Okigwe—a location with poor mobile network coverage.

According to a statement from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, the lack of communication due to the breakdown led to widespread concern and rumors on social media, including fears of abduction.

Upon receiving the report, police and other security agencies swiftly launched a coordinated operation, located the students, and escorted them safely to Owerri. The group received necessary assistance and continued their journey back to Onitsha on May 17, arriving without incident and in good health.

The police clarified that there was no abduction or foul play involved, and urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.

The official statement reads in part:

“The Imo State Police Command unequivocally confirms that no abduction took place. The students, their proprietor, and support staff safely arrived in Imo State, wrote their exams, and encountered a mechanical failure on their return journey, which led to the communication gap and public concern.”