The Management of Benue Links has confirmed that one of its vehicles was intercepted by kidnappers within the Ikobi axis of Otukpo Local Government Area in the state. The incident is said to have occurred on the night of Wednesday, 15th April 2026.
Reports state that the vehicle, an 18-seater bus, was conveying passengers, most of whom were candidates scheduled to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination the following day, when it was attacked by armed persons. During the incident, the driver and a few passengers were said to have managed to escape, while 15 passengers were reportedly abducted. Two of the abducted passengers subsequently escaped, bringing the total number of those currently unaccounted for to 13.
The Information Officer of the organization, Johnson Ehi Daniel in a statement on Friday said Management wishes to state unequivocally that the said trip was unauthorized and conducted in clear violation of the company’s operational guidelines. “The guideline is a standing directive prohibiting all company vehicles from undertaking journeys beyond 6:00 p.m. due to prevailing security challenges. The Management stated that the driver acted without the knowledge or approval of the Management, removed the vehicle from the company’s premises, picked up passengers, and embarked on the journey without due documentation or clearance.
“As a result of this breach of protocol, the trip was not officially recorded, and the company currently does not have comprehensive details of the affected passengers, aside from indications that a majority were JAMB candidates. The driver involved is presently in police custody and investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” they said.
According to the statement, the General Manager, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, on behalf of Management and Staff of the company, deeply sympathizes with the families of the affected passengers and also shares in their distress at this difficult time. “The company is working closely with relevant security agencies to support ongoing efforts aimed at securing the safe release of the abducted passengers,” he said.
The company has reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of its passengers and will continue to enforce strict compliance with its operational policies to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
