June 23, (THEWILL) – The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has confirmed the abduction of 11 passengers and a driver travelling in one of its buses en route to Makurdi from Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the company’s Information Officer, Johnson Ehi Daniel, the company said the incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at Eke Elengbecho, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to the statement, the bus, with registration number 14B-143BN, departed Abeokuta with 12 passengers and the driver.
It was later found abandoned by the roadside at Eke, with some passengers’ luggage still inside, but the driver and 11 passengers were missing.
One passenger reportedly escaped and made a report at the Eke Police Station, narrating that the bus was ambushed by armed kidnappers.
The company strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an assault by criminal elements against its vehicle and passengers.
“We stand in solidarity with the families and loved ones of those affected, and we assure the public that we are actively collaborating with security agencies, who are working diligently to secure the safe return of the abducted passengers and the driver,” the statement read.
The management commended the swift response of law enforcement agencies and expressed confidence in their efforts to resolve the situation safely and promptly.
As of the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached for comment.
