The Amalgamated Union of app-based transporters in Nigeria is deeply distressed by the ongoing and brutal killings of its members in certain areas of the country.
This distressing situation has emerged in the wake of the alleged murders of three union members in Port Harcourt and another member in Galadimawa, Abuja, on a Wednesday.
According to an official statement released by the union on Thursday, the incident in Port Harcourt involved three of its members who were working on the Bolt app.
It appears to be a series of coordinated attacks that occurred between the hours of 7.30 pm and 10 pm on the same day.
The union reported that the attack resulting in the tragic death of a driver, Emmanual Daniel, took place while he was en route to pick up a passenger who had requested a ride. Tragically, Daniel was murdered, and his assailants also stole his vehicle.
In addition to this, Roland Asuru and John Okon were both fatally shot, and their cars were stolen by suspected robbers in separate incidents.
There were also reported unsuccessful attempts to steal cars belonging to members of the union in areas like GRA, CFC Roundabout, and Ekeme, as mentioned in the statement.
Furthermore, the statement detailed another horrific incident in Abuja, where a union member was brutally killed, and their car was stolen in the Galadimawa area of Abuja on the same Wednesday.
Expressing their deep concern over the recent spate of member killings, the union finds it tragic and unacceptable that, within a span of just two days, four of its members have lost their lives, and seven cars have been stolen.
These members were providing essential services to the public, and their deaths were preventable, had there been adequate security measures and intelligence to thwart these deadly attacks.
The statement continued by highlighting the union’s efforts to improve security by calling on app companies to require passengers to provide national ID information before using the service.
Regrettably, these pleas have fallen on deaf ears, leading to the loss of lives without justice or compensation.
As a registered trade union with the duty to protect its members from such preventable circumstances, the union urgently calls on the Federal Government to instruct the Ministry of Transport, Science, and Digital Economy, or any relevant authority, to mandate app-based companies to collect passengers’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) before allowing them to book rides.
The union also appeals to the Governor of River State, the FCT Minister, and the police to initiate investigations and bring these ruthless criminals to justice.
They further request adequate compensation for the families of the deceased from both the government and the app companies.
In conclusion, the union extends its sympathy to the grieving families and urges its members to remain vigilant during the festive season and beyond.
Unfortunately, as of the time of this report, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, has not responded to phone calls.
