inDrive probes Lagos driver robbery by passengers
Ride-hailing company inDrive is investigating an alleged attack and robbery of a driver by passengers on its platform. The incident occurred in Ajao Estate, Lagos, according to a company spokesperson.
A driver using inDrive was attacked and robbed by the passengers he had agreed to transport, according to reports. The company stated it views such cases with extreme concern, stressing that protecting all users remains its top concern.
inDrive has begun an internal probe to clarify the details of what happened. The passenger involved has been temporarily suspended while the company examines the situation and evaluates the case further.
The company has pledged full cooperation with police and will share any relevant details, while respecting legal requirements and privacy rules during the process.
Read Also: Zoho adds AI agents to analytics platform
The incident has raised concerns about the safety mechanisms in place on inDrive’s platform. The driver’s union, Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), questioned the company’s safety measures, citing the lack of effective passenger verification and emergency response systems.
Steven Iwindoye, the PRO of AUATON in Lagos State, accused the app company of not taking safety on its platform seriously, saying “Where are the effective passenger verification measures? Where is the emergency response system that drivers can rely on when their lives are in danger?”
According to reports, the driver picked up the request on inDrive at about 4:30 am on Sunday, October 25, in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos. The incident involved two riders, one of whom got into the back seat while the other hopped into the front, and along the way, the man in front pulled out a pistol and demanded the car.
The helpless driver had no other choice but to surrender his car, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the company’s safety measures and its ability to protect drivers in such situations. Drivers’ unions have long been advocating for better safety protocols, including effective passenger verification and emergency response systems, to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of drivers. The incident has also sparked a review of inDrive’s liability in its Terms of Use, with the company seeking to assume more responsibility for the safety of its drivers and riders.
