The ride-hailing startup Bolt has responded to reports that three of its drivers were killed in Port Harcourt and Abuja by car thieves. The online taxi service said that the team is aware of the tragic situation and is grieved by it.
While sympathising with the families of the victims, the business praised the police for conducting a prompt investigation that it hopes will ultimately result in justice being served.
Read also: Nigerian attacks female Bolt driver in Kenya
Bolt’s Statements
“Bolt is aware of this unfortunate incident and is saddened about it. We extend our sympathies to the victims and their families. The safety of both our drivers and riders remains a high priority for us. Bolt also commends the police for their swift action in carrying out the investigation into this unfortunate incident and trusts that justice will be served. We are in contact with the bereaved family, and we will extend our support during this challenging period,”
In addition, the corporation stated that it was communicating with all relevant parties and made a commitment to assist with the ongoing investigation being conducted by the authorities.
In conclusion, the corporation with headquarters in Estonia stated that it will continue to keep the public informed even when it has access to additional information.
More on the killing of 3 Uber and Bolt drivers
In Port Harcourt and Abuja, it was alleged that three drivers for the ride-hailing service e-hailing were taken hostage by car thieves and then shot to death. The four victims, three drivers for an e-hailing service and one technician were found shot to death in various parts of the state and at various times.
According to a letter that was written to the Commissioner of Police and signed by Comrade Ibrahim Ayoade, the Secretary of the union, two of the deceased drivers, Emmanuel Daniel and Roland Asuru, as well as a mechanic named John Okon, were all killed by gunfire in the city of Port Harcourt, which is the capital of the state of Rivers. Kelvin Oga, a third driver, was gunned down and killed in Abuja. On the other hand, the occurrence took place on the same day, which was October 10.
Part of the statement reads:
“On the 10th of October 2023, in the space of one to three hours, a presumed gang(s) of armed robbers between the hours of 7.30 pm and 10 pm killed three drivers of a Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Golf-3 in an attempt to snatch their cars.
The three victims, Emmanuel Daniel, Roland Asuru, and a mechanic John Okon, were each brutally murdered in D-Line (which has become lately notorious for car theft and armed robbery incidences), Wopara Street in Old GRA, and Abakiliki by Nanka Street in Diobu, respectively.
The first victim, Mr Emmanuel Daniel, is one of us and a registered E-hailing driver He has left a widow and his three helpless young children confused and in shock.”
Kelvin Oga, the fourth driver, was reportedly killed by gunfire in the Galadimawa neighbourhood of Abuja, according to the President of the Union, Comrade Adedamola Adeniran.
E-hailing drivers call for passengers’ NIN verification following homicides
Drivers demand NIN registration for passengers
E-hailing drivers came out in large numbers with banners and placards to stage a protest against Uber and Bolt after the deaths of their fellow drivers. The drivers were upset that neither company was doing enough to protect drivers on its platforms.
E-hailing drivers in Nigeria are demanding that e-hailing companies like Uber and Bolt utilise the National Identification Number (NIN) to verify the identities of their customers as part of the ongoing protests that they are participating in. This comes after it was claimed that three e-hailing drivers who were registered under the Uber and Bolt platform were shot dead by gunmen in Port Harcourt and Abuja, according to a letter to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police. These drivers were apparently working in both cities.
Comrade Adedamola Adeniran, President of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria, is the one who issued the appeal. The president is of the opinion that taking such a step will protect his party from any future assaults.
Bolt said that the safety of its drivers and riders is its top concern and that it has put in place a number of safety features that are constantly being tested and improved. Among these steps are:
Driver and rider trip-sharing lets both drivers and riders let a third party know about the progress of their live trips so that the third party can follow along in real-time. During the trips, Bolt also keeps an eye on them and tracks them in real-time.
There is a “SOS” button that can be used to call for help from the police.
A review score for both riders and drivers that lets them rate each other every trip. We really care about the reviews, and drivers and riders with very low scores are blocked.
Bolt offers protection that covers injuries or damage to personal belongings that happen on active trips.
The question of whether these safety steps have been successful in keeping drivers safe on its platform is a different one.
As a registered trade union with the responsibility to protect our members against preventable circumstances like this, we are making a call on the government to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Ministry of Transport, Science, and Digital Economy or any relevant ministry to direct these app companies to capture National Identity Number of the passenger before ordering a ride,” he said.