The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has confirmed the arrest of one of its drivers following the abduction of passengers, many of whom were candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), during a night journey from Makurdi to Otukpo in Benue State.
The incident reportedly occurred late Wednesday night in the Ikobi area of Otukpo Local Government Area, when an 18-seater bus conveying passengers came under attack by suspected armed assailants.
In a statement issued by the company’s Information Officer, Ehi Daniel, Benue Links said the driver acted in violation of operational guidelines by embarking on the trip without authorisation.
According to the statement, “during the incident, the driver and a few passengers managed to escape, while 15 passengers were abducted.” It added that two of the victims have since regained their freedom, leaving 13 still unaccounted for.
The company distanced itself from the journey, stressing that it was not officially approved or documented. It noted that there is a standing directive prohibiting all company vehicles from travelling beyond 6pm due to security concerns.
Benue Links further alleged that the driver removed the vehicle from its premises without clearance, picked up passengers, and commenced the journey in breach of company procedures, leaving no verified passenger manifest.
“As a result of this breach, the trip was not officially recorded, and the company currently lacks comprehensive details of the passengers,” the statement said.
The General Manager, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, expressed sympathy with the families of the victims and described the incident as deeply distressing. He assured that the company is working with security agencies to secure the release of those still in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command confirmed that the driver is in custody as investigations continue.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said tactical units, including the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and other security formations, have been deployed to track the abductors and rescue the remaining victims.
“The Police are on top of the situation. Tactical teams have been deployed to intensify search and rescue operations,” she said.