Education
22 Zamfara varsity students, staff members released after six months in captivity
22 Zamfara varsity students, staff members released after six months in captivity
Twenty-two abducted students and staff members of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, have finally been released after six months in captivity.
The victims, comprising 15 students and seven workers of the university, were abducted from the university in September 2023.
They were received on Monday April 15 in Abuja by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The captives were released in three batches, with the last batch returning home on Sunday April 14.
Ribadu said the rescue operation was coordinated by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.
He urged them not to allow their experience to break them, but should rather make them stronger.
He said, “On behalf of the President, I thank all those involved in the successful rescue of the victims without losing anyone of them or paying any ransom.
“This is yet again a success story in our efforts to free all those being unlawfully held in captivity.
“We have so far released over a thousand of such victims without noise and with complete respect to their privacy and safety.
“This occasion marks a final juncture in a series of rescues we have undertaken in the last few months, to free victims of recent cases of mass abductions.
“Going forward, we are strengthening law enforcement and security measures to prevent these abductions, and strengthen physical security across vulnerable communities.”
National Coordinator, NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, recalled that those rescued were abducted from the school on September 22, 2023, at about 0230hrs.
He said the bandits armed with various weapons attacked three off-campus students’ hostels at Sabon Gida in Gusau and kidnapped a number of female students alongside some male artisans.
Others, he said, were a private security guard and a protocol officer of the university.
He added that the bandits ransacked the hostels, and carted away foodstuffs, mobile phones, laptops, ATM cards, cash and other valuables.
According to him, the abductees were subsequently herded on motorcycles and foot to a location through a town in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Laka said, “Search and rescue was conducted by a combined team of law enforcement agencies and the abductees were subsequently released in three batches, after 207 days in captivity.
“The first batch was rescued on March 15 while the second batch was rescued on April 12 and the last batch was rescued on April 14.
“All the abductees were profiled at the NCTC while the ONSA Medical Team examined them and administered minor treatments on the bruises sustained by 3 of the abductees.”
Education
78% of 2024 UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB
78% of 2024 UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, on Monday, released the results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, showing that 1,402,490 candidates out of 1,842,464 failed to score 200 out of 400 marks.
The number of candidates who failed to score half of the possible marks represents 78 per cent of the candidates whose results were released by JAMB.
Giving a breakdown of the results of the 1,842,464 candidates released, the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, noted that, “8,401 candidates scored 300 and above; 77,070 scored 250 and above; 439,974 scored 200 and above while 1,402,490 scored below 200.”
On naming the top scorers for the 2024 UTME, Oloyede said, “It is common knowledge that the board has, at various times restated its unwillingness to publish the names of its best-performing candidates, as it considers its UTME as only a ranking examination on account of the other parameters that would constitute what would later be considered the minimum admissible score for candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions.
“Similarly, because of the different variables adopted by respective institutions, it might be downright impossible to arrive at a single or all-encompassing set of parameters for generating a list of candidates with the highest admissible score as gaining admission remains the ultimate goal. Hence, it might be unrealistic or presumptive to say a particular candidate is the highest scorer given the fact that such a candidate may, in the final analysis, not even be admitted.
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“However, owing to public demand and to avoid a repeat of the Mmesoma saga as well as provide a guide for those, who may want to award prizes to this set of high-performing candidates, the Board appeals to all concerned to always verify claims by candidates before offering such awards.”
Oloyede also noted that the results of 64,624 out of the 1,904,189, who sat the examination, were withheld by the board and would be subject to investigation.
He noted that though a total of 1,989,668 registered, a total of 80,810 candidates were absent.
“For the 2024 UTME, 1,989,668 candidates registered including those who registered at foreign centres. The Direct Entry registration is still ongoing.
“Out of a total of 1,989,668 registered candidates, 80,810 were absent. A total of 1,904,189 sat the UTME within the six days of the examination.
“The Board is today releasing the results of 1,842,464 candidates. 64,624 results are under investigation for verification, procedural investigation of candidates, Centre-based investigation and alleged examination misconduct.”
Oloyede also said the board, at the moment, conducts examination in nine foreign centres namely: Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Buea, Cameroon; Cotonou, Republic of Benin; London, United Kingdom; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Johannesburg, South Africa.
“The essence of this foreign component of the examination is to market our institutions to the outside world as well as ensuring that our universities reflect the universality of academic traditions, among others. The Board is, currently, fine-tuning arrangements for the conduct of the 2024 UTME in these foreign centres,” he said.
78% of 2024 UTME candidates scored below 200 – JAMB
Education
BREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results
BREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results.
Over 1.94 million candidates registered and sat the examination in 118 towns and over 700 centres across the country.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede announced the release of the UTME results at a press conference held at the board’s headquarters, Bwari, in Abuja on Monday.
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The examination which began on Friday, 19th April ended on Monday, 29th April 2024.
The board earlier explained that it chose to delay the release of the UTME results by some days because it needed some time to scrutinize the results to ensure credibility and integrity of the results, ensuring that there are no questions or any form of unclarity concerning the results particularly as regards the issue of impersonation, mixed biometrics, and other forms of malpractices.
BREAKING: JAMB releases 2024 UTME results
Education
JAMB likely to release 2024 UTME results today
JAMB likely to release 2024 UTME results today
Today marks a significant moment for students awaiting their fate in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) gears up to unveil the results.
Scheduled for a press conference in Abuja, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede will shed light on the outcome of the examination and related matters.
Initial signs suggest that the results to be disclosed today pertain to candidates who took the UTME in its early stages. However, others may have to wait longer as the board ensures thorough scrutiny.
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JAMB had opted to delay the results release to conduct meticulous checks, prioritizing the credibility and integrity of the outcomes. This measure addresses concerns such as impersonation and irregular biometrics that could cloud the results.
The 2024 UTME, which commenced on April 19 and concludes today, witnessed an impressive turnout, with over 1.9 million candidates participating across 700 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
Previously, JAMB habitually released results shortly after the examination. However, recent years revealed underlying issues prompting the board to adopt a more cautious approach, withholding results for further review to uphold standards and fairness.
JAMB likely to release 2024 UTME results today
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