The administration of Benue Hyperlinks Nigeria Restricted has confirmed that its driver who conveyed kidnapped passengers, principally Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination condidates, in an 18-seater bus from Makurdi to Otukpo has been arrested.
The administration additionally clarified that the driving force violated firm guidelines by embarking on the journey with out approval thereby endangering the lives of the passengers.
In an announcement issued by the corporate’s Info Officer, Ehi Daniel, the administration disclosed that the driving force and some passengers escaped through the assault, whereas 15 others have been kidnapped by the assailants.
A part of the assertion learn “the administration of Benue Hyperlinks Nigeria Restricted regrets to substantiate an unlucky safety incident involving certainly one of its autos, which occurred on the evening of Wednesday April 15, 2026 on the Ikobi space in Otukpo Native Authorities Space of Benue State.
“Stories point out that the car, an 18-seater bus, was conveying passengers, most of whom have been candidates scheduled to take a seat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination the
following day, when it was attacked by armed individuals.
“Through the incident, the driving force and some passengers managed to flee, whereas 15 passengers have been reportedly kidnapped. Two of the kidnapped passengers subsequently escaped, bringing the variety of these presently unaccounted for to 13.
“Administration needs to state unequivocally that the mentioned journey was unauthorized and performed in clear violation of the corporate’s operational tips.
“There’s a standing directive prohibiting all firm autos from endeavor journeys past 6pm on account of prevailing safety challenges. The motive force, performing with out the data or approval of administration, eliminated the car from the corporate’s premises, picked up passengers and launched into
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the journey with out due documentation or clearance.
“On account of this breach of protocol, the journey was not formally recorded and the corporate presently doesn’t have complete particulars of the affected passengers, apart from indications {that a} majority have been JAMB candidates.
“The motive force concerned is presently in police custody and investigations are ongoing to establish the total circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The Basic Supervisor, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, on behalf of administration and employees of the corporate, deeply sympathizes with the households of the affected passengers and shares of their misery at this tough time.
“The corporate is working intently with related safety companies to assist ongoing efforts aimed toward securing the protected launch of the kidnapped passengers.
“Benue Hyperlinks Nigeria Restricted reiterates its dedication to the protection and safety of its passengers and can proceed to implement strict compliance with its operational insurance policies to stop a recurrence of such incidents.”
In the meantime the Benue State Police Command, in an announcement by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet confirmed the arrest assuring that efforts have been on to rescue the victims.
Based on her, “the Police is on high of the state of affairs, the Command has already deployed a number of Tactical Groups together with the Anti – kidnapping Crew, the command administration group and different sister companies to proceed to trace and rescue the remaining passengers and in addition arrest different suspects.”
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