Driver in Custody After Unauthorized Night Trip Ends in Abduction of JAMB Candidates in Benue
A bus driver is currently in police custody following an abduction incident involving 13 passengers, mostly JAMB candidates, along the Makurdi to Otukpo route in Benue State.
The arrest follows confirmation by transport authorities that the journey was carried out without official approval and in violation of established safety guidelines, which restrict night travel after 6pm due to insecurity on major roads.
Preliminary findings indicate that the driver took out an 18-seater bus without clearance, picked up passengers, and proceeded on the trip without proper documentation or authorization from the transport company. This breach of procedure meant there was no official passenger record for the journey.
The situation turned tragic on the night of April 15 when the vehicle was attacked by armed men around Ikobi in Otukpo Local Government Area. The driver and a few passengers managed to escape during the incident, while 15 passengers were taken. Two have since regained freedom, leaving 13 still missing.
Authorities say the absence of a verified manifest has made it more difficult to establish the full identity of those affected, most of whom are believed to be students scheduled to sit for the JAMB examination.
Security agencies, including anti-kidnapping units, have been deployed to the area as efforts continue to rescue the remaining victims and track those responsible.
