Makurdi – The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has confirmed the arrest of one of its drivers following the kidnapping of passengers, mostly candidates sitting for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in an 18-seater bus traveling from Makurdi to Otukpo.
The incident occurred on the night of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Ikobi area in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. Gunmen intercepted the bus around 8 p.m., abducting most of the passengers on board. Reports indicate that the vehicle was carrying about 18 passengers, primarily young men and women heading to examination centers in Otukpo for the ongoing UTME.
According to accounts from the scene, the driver and one passenger managed to escape during the attack. Initial figures placed the number of abducted passengers at 14, though some sources mentioned up to 15 or 17. The Benue State Police Command has since reported that two of the abducted passengers later escaped their captors, with rescue efforts continuing for the others.
In a statement issued by its Information Officer, Johnson Ehi Daniel (or Ehi Daniel), the management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited expressed regret over the security breach but clarified that the driver acted without authorization. The driver reportedly removed the vehicle from the company’s premises after official hours, when the park manager had closed, picked up passengers without proper documentation or clearance, and embarked on the journey in violation of company rules.
The company emphasized that the trip was illegal and not approved. It noted that the driver violated safety policies, including the directive against traveling beyond 6:00 p.m. This unauthorized action, according to the management, endangered the lives of the passengers.
The driver, who escaped the kidnappers, is currently in the custody of the Benue State Police Command in Otukpo, where he is undergoing interrogation. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has distanced itself from the trip, describing it as an “illegal job” and reiterating its commitment to safety protocols. The company sympathized with the affected passengers and their families while appealing for calm as security agencies work to rescue the remaining victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
This incident has raised concerns about security along the Makurdi-Otukpo road, especially during the critical period of national examinations when many students are traveling to various centers. Authorities have not yet released further details on the status of the abducted candidates or the progress of the rescue operation as of the latest reports.
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