OLALEKAN OLABULO writes on police’s recent horrifying findings about criminal gangs in Lagos going after ride-hailing drivers and sending some to their early graves.
OVER the last few years, ride-hailing services have become a pivotal part of Nigeria’s transportation system, especially in Lagos State. The introduction not only provided an alternative to old rickety commercial vehicles on Lagos roads but also created a livelihood for thousands of drivers, mostly young and educated people who had been thrown into the labour market by the dwindling national economy. Digital ride-hailing platforms like Taxify, Uber, Bolt, Lagride and In-drive emerged, providing services in the sector, though all are mostly referenced as Uber by the local populace, due to the popularity of the digital platform that can be called the pioneer of the service in Nigeria.
The last one year has, however, more than ever before, created serious challenges for the business in the state as drivers under the scheme, collaborating with different digital platforms, become more endangered with deadly armed gangs targetting them regularly, mostly for their vehicles.
Tens of such drivers are believed by security agencies to have been killed in the last one year, with many others critically injured during attacks to dispossess them of their vehicles.
Worried by the rising cases of attacks on the operators, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, expressed the need for the command to organise training for the operators of the ride-hailing business on how they can protect themselves and their vehicles in the course of rendering services to the state’s residents.
Not all that glitters…
According to the CP, the perpetrators of the heinous act mostly target lonely and deserted areas to unleash mayhem on unsuspecting drivers. He disclosed that they usually trick their targets by pretending to need their services while offering mouth-watering cash to bait them.
Ishola, while presenting the command’s stewardship for the last four months, said, “During the period under review, we had cases of Uber drivers being flagged down and subsequently killed. I mean, the owners of the vehicles.”
The police boss narrated how the command tracked a stolen vehicle only to discover in the course of investigation that the driver who was using the vehicle for ride-hailing service had been killed and buried.
He said, “On one occasion, one of such vehicles was to be sold. We got the information and we swung into action. We arrested the man who was trying to buy and the seller told us the source of the vehicle. They took us to the site where they buried the owner of the vehicle. We have exhumed the corpse and we have charged the suspects to court.
“Also, a Uber driver was killed in similar circumstance. We investigated and brought to book one Edmund Julius Abdullah and Saturday Okey in connection with the crime. The Toyota Camry was recovered and handed over to the family.”
Terror from America
“Just days ago,” the police commissioner, disclosed, “you could see some four young suspects in blindfolds. We did that because investigation is still ongoing on them. They hired an Uber driver and inside his Toyota Camry they stabbed him to death. It was the chaotic situation that attracted our operatives. Two of them ran away. We were able to arrest two with the driver in a pool of his own blood.”
Members of the gang were identified by the police chief as one 21-year-old David, the leader of the gang who was reportedly sent home from the United State of America by his father; a19-year-old Emeka, a 21-year-old Samuel and a 19-year-old Lookman.
The CP said, “On January 9, 2025, at about midnight, a case of conspiracy, armed robbery and murder was reported. The suspects ordered an Uber vehicle at Chevron in the Lekki area to Obalende. On getting to Obalende in a lonely area, they robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck.
“They were unable to make away with the vehicle. With the intervention of Good Samaritans within the area, two suspects were arrested and handed over to police operatives attached to Lion Building.
“The two other members of the gang who initially escaped from the scene in Obalende were tracked to the Chevron area of Lekki where they were arrested. The driver’s corpse was deposited at the morgue of Mainland Hospital, Yaba.”
Ishola added, ‘The gang leader was sent home from America by his father. The mother at home could not handle him. The failure of society is placed on the police. We are not complaining, it is the job we signed up for. They will be facing criminal prosecution right from Monday.
“I wonder the value this vehicle will fetch in the market that made them snuff the life out of the owner. Probably the man took the vehicle on hire purchase.”
‘How not to be a prey’
The police boss warned ride-hailing operators to be wary of the activities of criminals who see them as ready preys.
He said, “I would like to tell Lagosians, especially people involved in the Uber thing, Taxify, Lagride, Bolt, In-drive and all these stuff, to be wary of their passengers.
“If it is possible, don’t carry more than one passenger at a time and insist that such a fellow must be searched and sit in front with you. This is our advice.
“This is the third of this kind of crime uncovered in three months. We don’t know how many that had happened. Such are the cases of brutality around us now.”
He promised that “in the course of the month, we are going to summon all drivers in such business to give them security tips so that they will not fall victim to things like this.”
Why we are targeted –Drivers
Meanwhile, operators of ride-hailing services have described attacks on them as “not a new thing,” saying that they had embarked on enlightenment for their members on how to avoid future attacks.
They blamed the recent rise in attacks on their members on greed and the high cost of vehicles, especially the kinds that are used for commercial purposes.
An operator, Adeleke Success, speaking with Saturday Tribune, said, “Killing of Uber drivers is not a new thing. It has been happening for many years now. But it is true that it has been on the rise in recent times.”
He blamed his colleagues partly for the rise in the attacks, saying, “The rise in the attacks is also due to greed on the part of the operators who bypass the app with the hope of making more money.”
Although he had no evidence to back up his claim, Success said, “Almost all those who were attacked and killed were those who avoided the operator’s app. The normal process is that each operator is registered with one of the digital companies. People book through the different apps of these companies.
“Many of these drivers cancel trips that are organised for them by these companies and resort to looking for passengers by themselves. This is called off-line arrangements. They know that they won’t be paying any commission to the companies once they don’t take trips that are arranged by them.”
Considering the other side of the coin in the matter, Success said, “I can’t really blame these cab operators. What some of these companies are getting as commission is too high. Some get as high as twenty percent despite not doing anything other than book the ride. We have been clamouring for reduction in the commission but the operators have not acceded to our request. That is why many operators resort to off-line arrangements.”
Another operator who identified himself simply as Pastor said, “It is common in the posh areas but we have had reports of Uber driver being killed in Oshodi and Surulere.”
Pastor blamed the recent increase in the attack on “the high cost of vehicles in the country. I bought my vehicle for N2.5 million some years ago, but today, that same vehicle sells for N9 million. Since these boys know that most Uber vehicles are neat, they target them for easy disposal and quick money.”
Growth amid killings
According to a global research and data analysis firm, Statista, ride-hailing market in Nigeria is expected to generate 303.30 million dollars revenue this year.
The firm also predicted that, “This sector is expected to exhibit an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2029) of 11.99 percent, leading to a projected market size of 477.10 million dollars by 2029.
“Moreover, it is anticipated that the number of users in this market will escalate to 42.88 million users by 2029. In 2025, the user penetration rate is predicated to be 14.3 percent, which will decrease to 16.7 percent by 2029. The average revenue per user (ARPU) is expected to be 9.03 US dollars.”
Comparing the Nigerian market with the rest of the globe, the firm stated that “China is expected to generate the most revenue {63. 870 billion US dollars in 2025 in the ride-hailing market in comparison to other countries,” adding that “despite challenges posed by poor infrastructure and security concerns, ride-hailing services in Nigeria continue to grow due to high demand for affordable transportation options.”
In collecting the data for the research on the Nigerian market, Statista said “figures are based on bookings and revenues of ride-hailing services,” noting that “market sizes are determined through a bottom-up approach, building on a specific rationale for each market.”
To enhance the credibility and reliability of the report, it said, “As a basis for evaluating markets, we use financial reports, third-party studies and reports, federal statistical offices, industry associations and price data. To estimate the number of users and bookings, we furthermore use data from the Statista Consumer Insights Global survey.
“In addition, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations, such as demographic data, GDP, consumer spending, internet penetration and device usage. This data helps us to estimate the market size for each country individually.”
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