The E-hailing Drivers Union has decried the increasing number of attacks on its members, calling on the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action to ensure their safety.
PUNCH Metro reported that a 42-year-old e-hailing driver, Yusfat Ayinde, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants on Friday and his body was dumped at Agidingbi in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
Ayinde was said to have received a ride request through the e-hailing app and arrived at the designated location, where he was ambushed by a group of hoodlums.
The assailants thereafter stabbed him in the process and fled with his vehicle.
The state chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria, Azeez Jaiyesinmi, in a chat with our correspondent on Thursday, said the rising incidents include robberies, assaults, and violent attacks on the drivers, who are often targeted while on duty.
Jaiyesinmi lamented that despite the crucial role e-hailing drivers play in providing transportation services to the public, they are not being protected from harm.
“I must express deep concern over the rising security challenges faced by e-hailing drivers in our state. It is troubling that these drivers are becoming frequent targets for attacks, and our responsibility is to advocate for their safety and well-being.
“The rise in incidents such as robberies, assaults, and even violent attacks on e-hailing drivers has been alarming. These brave men and women who serve the public, often working long hours to earn a living, are now in harm’s way due to the lack of adequate security measures to protect them,” he said.
Jaiyesinmi however explained that a common form of attack on the drivers involved tactics such as staged or fake ride requests to lure drivers to isolated areas where they are then robbed, assaulted, or even fatally injured.
He added that some specific tricks include, ambushes in remote locations and fake payments or refusal to pay.
According to him, the drivers are often attacked with knives, firearms, or blunt objects during robbery attempts, stressing that sometimes, attackers travel in groups, overpowering the driver by surprise.
Jaiyesinmi however called on the authorities to take urgent measures to protect e-hailing drivers by enhancing police presence and rapid response.
He said, “We want the authorities to increase police patrols in high-risk areas and ensure a rapid response system for emergencies involving e-hailing drivers. They should also collaborate with Auaton and work with ride-hailing platforms to implement stricter passenger verification processes, including ID checks facial recognition of riders and real-time monitoring of suspicious activity.
“They should also set up a Special Task Force that will work with the Auaton task force to create a dedicated unit to investigate and prevent crimes targeting e-hailing drivers. The government should create legal and policy changes and launch public awareness initiatives to educate drivers on personal safety and how to report threats effectively.”
Jaiyesinmi also urged the government to introduce stricter penalties for crimes against e-hailing drivers and ensure that drivers have access to affordable safety equipment such as panic buttons or dashcams.
