IGP deploys five tactical teams to Benue, as five out of 18 kidnapped victims rescued ..... Benue links mgt confirms incidence, says driver in police custody

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Inspector-General of Police(IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has  deployed  his Intelligence Response Team(IRT) and five tactical teams to Benue State, to rescue the 14 passengers who were abducted on Wednesday April 15, 2026, while travelling  on Benue links to Otukpo.

The Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Emenari, who disclosed this while speaking with our correspondent on Friday in Makurdi announced that five victims have been rescued while 13 others are still  in danger zone.

He said said the tactical operatives were intensifying efforts to secure the release of the remaining victims.

"We are on top of the situation. I was in Otukpo yesterday to coordinate the rescue operation. Right now, my OC operations is in Otukpo with all the tactical team including the IG Intelligence Response Team and our anti kidnapping team.

"We have about five tactical teams on ground doing the needful and I can assure you that, in no distance time by the grace of God, we are going to get the victims rescued. Already, two victims have been rescued, debriefed and allowed to go back to their families.

"The issue that happened with the Benue links bus and the idea that 18 JAMB candidates were being kidnapped was not the correct thing. What happen was an incidence  where 14 passengers of Benue links bus were abducted before their entry into Otukpo on the evening of two days ago.  It might be suspected that two or three of them maybe candidates going to Otukpo.

"For now, we cannot say this is what happened because the Benue links bus driver picked those passengers along the road . So, the five of them that were rescued so far, non of them are JAMB candidates. And from our questions too when we are debriefing the people that were rescued, there is no indication that they are JAMB candidates. But we are suspecting that one or two of them might be JAMB candidates 

"The most importance thing now is for us to rescue the passengers no matter who they are. The 13 victims are still in danger zone.  The person that escape was one of the persons that came for the police screening. So, he is at home and stable now.

"The bus is 18 passengers vehicle. Out of the 18 passengers, five are freed now because the kidnappers did not go with three passengers and two escaped. So a total of 13 are in the bush.

"We will not relent until the last victim is freed. We have put in place measures to flush out criminal elements from the area. Our tactical teams are also conducting clearing operations across the state, including in Apa, Logo, and Kwande local government areas,” the CP said.

The commissioner of police stated  that recent operations had also covered the Katsina-Ala/Ukum axis, as security agencies move to curb rising insecurity ahead of the farming season.

Meanwhile, the Management of Benue Links Nigeria has confirmed the unfortunate security incident involving one of its vehicles, which occurred on the night of Wednesday, 15th April 2026, at the Ikobi area in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The Management unequivocally  stated that the said trip was unauthorized and conducted in clear violation of the company’s operational guidelines, adding that here is a standing directive prohibiting all company vehicles from undertaking journeys beyond 6:00 PM due to prevailing security challenges.

A statement by the information officer of the organisation, Johnson Ehi Daniel,  said 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.

"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.

"The General Manager, Comrade Alexander Aondohemba Fanafa KSM MNIM, on behalf of Management and Staff of the company, deeply sympathizes with the families of the affected passengers and 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", .

"Benue Links Nigeria Limited  reiterates 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", the statement concluded