By Clement Nyam MAKURDI-
The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has confirmed the arrest of its driver who conveyed passengers, including candidates of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in a bus attacked by gunmen in Benue State.
The company disclosed that the driver violated established operational guidelines by embarking on the trip without authorization, a decision it said exposed the passengers to danger.
In a statement issued over the weekend by its Information Officer, Ehi Daniel, the company revealed that the incident occurred on the night of April 15, 2026, at the Ikobi area of Otukpo Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the 18-seater bus was transporting passengers most of them scheduled to sit for their JAMB examination the following day when it came under attack by armed assailants.
The management said the driver and a few passengers managed to escape during the attack, while 15 others were abducted. It added that two of the victims later regained freedom, leaving 13 passengers still unaccounted for.
The company stressed that the journey was not approved, noting that it contravened a standing directive prohibiting trips beyond 6 p.m. due to prevailing security risks.“The driver, acting without the knowledge or approval of management, removed the vehicle from the company’s premises, picked up passengers and embarked on the journey without due documentation or clearance,” the statement said.
It further noted that because the trip was not officially recorded, the company currently lacks comprehensive details of the affected passengers, aside from indications that most of them were JAMB candidates.
Benue Links confirmed that the driver is in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The General Manager of the company, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, expressed sympathy to the families of the victims, assuring that the company is collaborating with security agencies to facilitate the safe rescue of those still in captivity.
“We share in the pain of the affected families and remain committed to supporting all efforts to secure the release of the abducted passengers,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Police Command also confirmed the arrest. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, said tactical teams, including anti-kidnapping units and other security agencies, have been deployed to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victims.
“The Command is on top of the situation. We have deployed tactical teams to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining passengers and the arrest of other suspects,” she said.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to bring the situation under control and prevent a recurrence.
© 2026, Standard Focus. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from STANDARD FOCUS.