Metro

Driver Slumps, Dies As Union Laments Hostile Working Condition

Published

4 months ago

January 15, 2024

A driver with LagRide, a Lagos State-owned ride-sharing app, Adebayo Padmore, has collapsed and died in the Lekki area of the state.

The PUNCH learnt that Padmore, who was the National Deputy President of the Amalgamated Union of the app-based transporters of Nigeria, was about to begin work on Monday, January 8 when the incident happened.

The spokesperson for the union, Jossy Adaraniwon, who spoke with our correspondent on Sunday said the deceased who was in his mid-40s had opened his car bonnet to check the engine oil when he collapsed on the spot.

Adaraniwon, who lamented what he alleged as the hostile working conditions of ride-hailing companies in Nigeria said the victim was rushed to the hospital where he later died.

He said, “Bayo had worked the night before and decided to take some rest in his car on one of the streets in Lekki. He woke up around 5 am to start work and while preparing, he opened his bonnet to check the engine oil. It was at the point of going back into his vehicle that he slumped. Our colleagues who were there had to pour water on him quickly and later took him to a nearby hospital but he did not make it alive. It was an unfortunate incident because he was still part of our Zoom meeting on Sunday evening and he did not sound like he was not feeling fine.”

Adaraniwon revealed that the medical report obtained from the hospital indicated that the deceased died of cardiac arrest which is associated with fatigue and accumulated stress.

Speaking further, he explained that Pademore’s death was not unconnected to the pressure on the job.

He said, “The great Padmore’s death is one that cannot be exonerated from the hostile condition of work by platforms like Lagride, Uber, Bolt and InDriver resulting from high commission, low fares, high daily target, higher asset repayment, and lack of healthcare insurance and anti-workers policy that subject platform workers to prolonged working hours, fatigue, low earnings, lack of healthcare, lack of rest time and struggle to meet the daily target, family time and needs.

“As a union, our demand for adequate regulation and welfare of platform workers remains unflinching until victory is assured. Our call to the Lagos Ride management is to render necessary support and compensation for the deceased’s family and adopt a platform worker-friendly policy immediately.”

It was gathered that the deceased had been buried in his hometown in Oyo State on Thursday.

The union embarked on a nationwide protest in June 2023, while withdrawing services of its drivers from the public.

The drivers, who said they could no longer work under the new fuel pump price conditions, noted that they had previously appealed to the companies to reduce their commissions on the grounds that they did not reflect industry benchmark commissions.

Metro

Man Dies On Top Of Married Woman In Akure

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

A married man has reportedly died after sleeping with a married woman in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

X user, Bolanle Cole, who shared the story online, said the man left his wife at home to go to a hotel to meet with a married woman and sadly, passed away there.

“A man died of “Magun” Thunderbolt here in Akure. He left his wife at home to meet another man’s wife in a hotel and later pass on. I wish him well.”

Metro

Soldier Dismissed For Sleeping With Colleague’s Wife

Published

10 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

A soldier named Abdullahi Ismail has been dismissed from the Nigerian Army after he was found guilty of having sex with his colleague’s wife.

The Lance Corporal was dismissed during the week at 231 Battalion in Biu, Borno State.

His dismissal is expected to serve as a deterrent to other soldiers involved in the act said to be common in the barracks.

The dismissed soldier had a notorious history of sexual indiscipline before he was reported to the army authorities, a source told SaharaReporters.

His offence – indecent professional misconduct and having sex with a fellow soldier’s wife – contravenes Sections 79 and 93 of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The law prescribes jail term and dismissal from service with dishonour.

Metro

Edo: Suspected Killers Of 200-level Student Of Delta Varsity Arrested

Published

11 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

Two suspects have been reportedly arrested by operatives of Edo State Police Command in connection with the disappearance of one Miss Faith Omodon, a 200-level undergraduate of University of Delta, Agbor.

On March 30, inhabitants of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo, reported the sudden disappearance of their daughter, Faith Omodon, who is studying Business Administration in the above mentioned university.

According to the father of the missing girl, Mr. Edward Omodon, was last seen on March 30, after leaving home for farm and never returned.

According to him, the incident occurred when the community was holding their national conference.

“We usually have Iru national conference at this time of the year. We were seated inside the community hall when we heard loud wailing outside that my daughter was missing.

“She had left for the farm earlier that morning with a motorbike taking her breakfast flask with her,” he said.

Corroborating Mr Omodon’s story, Mr Ikpoba Johnbull, Head of the village vigilance group said “soon after the news of her disappearance broke that evening, we followed the girl’s mother to the farm.

“We immediately mobilised and combed the area up to Izighiri and Uwumuwe, two neighbouring villages, but could not find any trace of her.

“We only found the leftover of her lunch flask. We informed our neighbouring vigilance groups as we spent that night inside the bushes but there was no result.”

Then, the matter was reported at the Abudu Police Division which was confirmed by Divisional Police Officer, Mr Iyayi Kenneth, who said “We have transferred the case to the state police command for further investigation.”

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, also confirmed the story, saying investigation was on to unravel the circumstances surrounding Miss Omodon’s disappearance.

However, barely a month, the vigilante group in the community said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Omodon and are now in Police custody.

Speaking, the National Youth Chairman of Iru- Egbede, Mr. Donald Isioma, disclosed that the suspects were arrested Saturday afternoon.

He said the two were arrested when they tracked the phone of the missing girl that was in possession of the suspects.

According to Isioma, so far, the police have recovered the phone from the suspects and the motorbike Miss Omodon rode to the farm on the day she got missing.

Unfortunately, he disclosed that one of the suspects who is a member of the community has confessed that they have killed the girl while being interrogated at Okpaihe Police State before their onward transfered to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Benin City.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said information concerning the arrest was yet to reach him but promised to get back as soon as he contact men of the SCID.