inDrive suspends driver who locked up child in car boot, says child is driver’s son

Following the outrageous incident involving an e-hailing driver who locked up a child in his car boot during a trip, inDrive, the ride-hailing company allegedly involved, has confirmed the suspension of the driver from its platform. A company spokesperson disclosed this to Technext following a query into the matter.

Recall that in a viral video posted by social media influencer VDM on X, the driver could be seen accosted by a crowd after his passengers discovered he locked up a child in his boot. The social media activist confirmed that the matter was eventually taken to a police station amid allegations that calls had already been made for the case to be discarded.

Read the story here: Outrage as inDrive driver is caught with child in his boot

Reacting to the incident, the inDrive spokesperson said the company is deeply concerned by the reports showing a child hidden in the boot of a vehicle. The company said it treats such matters with the utmost seriousness and, as such, is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all passengers.

“As soon as we received the report on social media, we immediately launched an internal investigation. We have been working to establish whether the ride in question was booked through our app, as we have not received any complaints or reports through our official channels. Based on the information visible in the video, we identified the driver. After several attempts to reach him, he stated that the child involved is his son and promised to provide proof,” the company said.

The company confirmed that the driver has been suspended even as it is making efforts to reach the passengers so as to get a full picture of what happened.

“We fully understand and share the public’s concern over these troubling circumstances and want to assure everyone that this behaviour is unacceptable. The driver has been immediately suspended pending the outcome of our internal review. At this stage, we are also trying to contact the passenger to get the full picture of what happened,” the company said.

The company also expressed that while its internal review is ongoing, it remains committed to supporting a full investigation upon request from the authorities and is fully prepared to provide any necessary information.

“We sincerely hope the situation is clarified as soon as possible,” the company said.

The latest in a litany of inDrive driver infractions

The latest inDrive driver infractions involved a group of friends who booked a ride through the app. Way into the journey, the passengers began to hear the cries of a child emanating from the car. Initially dismissing the sound as part of the loud music playing, their suspicion grew as the cries persisted. Upon insisting that the driver stop the vehicle and open the boot, they found a child inside.

The driver, when confronted, claimed the child was his, but his refusal to explain the situation satisfactorily led to further escalation. The passengers, alarmed and fearful, contacted the authorities. Upon arrival at the police station, the situation took an unexpected turn when an influential figure reportedly intervened, demanding the driver’s release.

This is the latest of a litany of infractions by drivers who have become notoriously unruly and unprofessional while on the app. Weeks ago, an up-and-coming musician shared how an inDrive driver attacked her. Going by her report, the driver allegedly whipped her with the strap of her handbag, which he had torn before smashing her sunglasses. All of this was because of an argument over the wrong location.

Before then, Technext had broken the story of an inDrive rider who was assaulted in her estate by her driver after she refused to pay the full fare because there was no air conditioning.

After that, there was the lady who was robbed, stabbed in the face and left for dead by a driver she had picked up on the same platform in the middle of the night. She was saved by a bike man who dropped her bleeding in front of her estate gate. inDrive denied this incident, stating that the ride did not occur on its platform.

Indeed, it seems to be a case of one week, one trouble for the ride-hailing platform that has become increasingly popular due to its low fares. The company, however, insists that safety remains its top priority.

“Safety remains our top priority, and we are committed to fostering a secure and trustworthy environment for both passengers and drivers. Our app is equipped with a feature that allows users to report any inappropriate behaviour or unlawful activity. We strongly encourage all users to utilise this tool whenever they feel unsafe, as every report helps us take swift action to protect our community,” it finished.

See also: Why are drivers on inDrive mostly unruly, and what can be done to correct this anomaly?