Leading ride-hailing platform, Bolt has commended the Lagos State Police Command for apprehending armed robbery gangs who target private commercial vehicle operators, including drivers operating across e-hailing platforms like Bolt, Uber and inDrive.
The e-mobility company disclosed this in a statement sent to Technext. According to the company, the milestone reflects the unwavering dedication of the Nigerian Police Force to ensuring safety and security within Lagos. The state Police Command recently announced the arrest of seven gangs who targeted and killed two Uber and Bolt drivers across the state.
According to a BBC report, on January 9, two suspects ordered a ride from Chevron, Lekki to Obalende. When they got to a lonely area of Obalende, the suspects attacked the driver and stabbed him severally before robbing him. The driver died.
In another incident, a three-man gang abducted an e-hailing driver, Oluwaseyi Fowler in Ajah, killed him and robbed him of his Toyota Camry which they sold to a criminal buyer who has also been arrested.
Speaking in commendation of the police over the recent development, the General Manager at Bolt Nigeria, Osi Oguah, described the police’s action as “swift and decisive while assuring of his organisation’s commitment to investing in collaborations and tools that guarantee the safety of drivers.
“We applaud the Lagos State Police Command for their swift and decisive action in dismantling these criminal gangs. The safety of our driver-partners and riders is our top priority, and we will continue to invest in tools, technology, and partnerships that enhance security,” the GM said.
He also emphasised that the company remains committed to collaborating with law enforcement agencies, regulators, and key stakeholders to ensure safer roads and to create a secure environment for mobility services in Lagos and across Nigeria.
Bolt encourages drivers on safety
According to reports, about 10,000 drivers use the Bolt app daily in Lagos state. This means there are about 10,000 potential victims of these armed robbery and killer gangs in the state. The actions of the Lagos Police Command, therefore, come as a huge relief for both drivers and their riders alike.
Indeed, taxi-hailing apps like Bolt have demonstrated their resolve to guarantee the safety of both drivers and riders during trips. In November 2024, the company announced a €100 million investment into safety, over three years. It also announced that it has commissioned 500 safety experts from across the world to monitor safety on the platform.
Speaking at the time, General Manager, Osi Oguah,
“With €100 million committed over three years to safety, we recognise that this requires an end-to-end approach across our business in Nigeria. That’s why The Bolt Safety Team of over 500 specialists will focus their efforts on product development, support, and scaling preventative measures to stop safety cases before they happen in that time. We’ll also continue to raise awareness of our safety tools with educational campaigns like the current ‘Bolt Safety Team’ campaign running in Nigeria to raise awareness of the in-app features that we know can help prevent cases,” he said.
In light of recent incidents, the company urges drivers to prioritize their safety by leveraging the several safety features on the app. Bolt also urged them to adhere to platform guidelines such as sharing their trip details in real-time with trusted contacts or using the in-app SOS button to alert emergency services.
Finally, the company urged drivers to avoid accepting trips outside the platform to ensure all journeys are documented and insured.
Interestingly, the Lagos state State Commissioner, CP Olarenwaju Ishola, while announcing the arrest, warned e-hailing drivers to be careful about the passengers they pick. He also advised them not to take more than one passenger if possible, to search the rider or make sure they sit in the front where they could observe them closely.
This, in all fairness, boils down to a thorough rider verification by the app companies which drivers have been clamouring for.
Indeed, the Lagos state commissioner for transport, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, represented by the Lagos state director of transport operations, Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, speaking during the launch of Bolt’s Safety Awareness Campaign in November, noted some safety measures to be taken by e-hailing companies to include:
Comprehensive driver background checks including criminal history and driving records should be conducted before drivers are approved. This, the commissioner says, builds trust among riders, reduces incidents of misconduct, and enhances the perception of safety.
A reversal of that statement should also entail conducting comprehensive rider background checks including criminal history before riders are approved. This will also build trust among drivers reduce incidents of misconduct and enhance the perception of safety.
While Bolt has a rider verification feature, whether it could be described as ‘comprehensive’ is another matter.
See also: Bolt reportedly migrates to fixed pricing like inDrive as e-hailing fares soar
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