By “Do not carry more than one passenger at a time”— Lagos CP warns Uber Drivers Amidst Recent Killings
Ghazali Ibrahim
In the wake of two recent murders of Uber drivers in Lekki and Ajah areas of Lagos, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olarenwaju Ishola, has issued a stern warning to ride-hailing drivers, urging them to limit the number of passengers to one per trip for safety reasons.
The warning comes after the police arrested seven suspects in connection with the brutal killings of two Uber drivers.
The first incident occurred on January 9, when a four-man gang allegedly murdered an Uber driver after luring him to a secluded area in Obalende, Lekki.
The gang, which had ordered a ride from Chevron, attacked the driver, stabbing him multiple times in the neck before attempting to steal his vehicle. However, they were unsuccessful in stealing the car.
The driver’s body was later found and taken to Mainland Hospital Yaba, with police recovering a Toyota Camry and several knives from the suspects.
A second case, which took place on September 12, involved a three-man syndicate who kidnapped and murdered another Uber driver, Oluwaseyi Fowler, in the Ajah area. The gang sold the victim’s Toyota Camry to a criminal receiver after killing him. The police later recovered the decomposed body of the victim, along with the stolen vehicle.
Following the arrests of the suspects and the rising incidents of violence against Uber drivers, Commissioner Ishola emphasized the need for drivers to exercise caution when accepting passengers.
He advised that drivers should only carry one passenger at a time, and insisted that passengers be searched before getting into the vehicle.
He also recommended that passengers should always sit in the front seat to ensure better safety for both the driver and the passenger.
“This is just the third such incident reported in the last three months. We cannot determine how many others have gone unreported,” Ishola added, urging Uber drivers to be vigilant and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from harm.
