The management of Benue Links Nigeria Limited has said the driver of one of its 18-seater commercial buses has been arrested for violating standing operational rules by embarking on a trip without authorisation.

This followed the attack on the company’s vehicle between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m, on Wednesday, at the Ikobi area in the Otukpo Local Government Area, by suspected gunmen who kidnapped passengers on the bus, including candidates going to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The transport company’s information officer, Ehi Daniel, stated that the driver’s movement at the time of the day, violated operational guidelines which prohibited journeys beyond 6:00 p.m. over security concerns, thereby putting the lives of the passengers in danger.

Mr Ehi said, “Management wishes to state unequivocally that the said trip was unauthorised and conducted in clear violation of the company’s operational guidelines. There is a standing directive prohibiting all company vehicles from undertaking journeys beyond 6pm due to prevailing security challenges. 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 (UTME) candidates. The driver involved is presently in police custody and investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

The company’s General Manager, Alexander Fanafa, while sympathising with the families of the affected passengers, assured that the company was working closely with relevant security agencies to support efforts to secure the release of their loved ones.