Metro

Edo: Bolt, Uber Drivers Shutdown Services, Protest Over Alleged Unfair Treatment

Published

2 years ago

June 16, 2023

Editor

Benin City, the Edo State capital, was on Tuesday literally shutdown as hundreds of Bolt and Uber drivers protested what they tagged unfair treatments by their managers.

The drivers who shutdown services and protested round major streets in their large numbers, carried placards with inscriptions as: “Abolish driver’s scores; long pick up should be compensated; activate cancellation fee; bring down commission to 10%; stop enslaving drivers among others.

The protest caused gridlocks for hours in the city centre of the state.

Addressing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State council secretariat in Benin City, one of the Bolt drivers, Chika Eric said they have been enslaved by Bolt and Uber respectively.

He said considering the economic reality, Bolt and Uber should have considered the drivers by reducing their commission to 10 percent rather than the usual 25 percent so that they could make some savings for themselves.

Eric said due to the unfair conditions which they have operated in, they decided to put their services on hold pending when their enlisted eight conditions are meant.

He listed their conditions as “reduction of the commission paid to Bolt and Uber from 25 percent to 10 percent; increase of minimum fare to N1, 000 (shortest distance); stopping of unlawful deactivation of drivers; every trip should read in traffic including the time.”

The other demands are: “Drivers’ scores should be scrapped entirely (allow the drivers to choose their rides); far distance pick up should be compensated with N300 minimum; any ride cancelled by riders after driver got to pick up location should be charged N500 and that the airport pick up and drop off should be much higher like other state.”

Responding to the protesters, the chairman, NUJ, Edo State council, Mr Festus Alenkhe commended them for their peaceful demonstration.

He urge them to put up their complaints in form of writing and address it to the Edo State House of Assembly with the view of having a round table discussion with the drivers and the managers of the Bolt and that of the Uber.

Alenkhe also urged the federal and the state governments to wade in to see how their issue can be addressed, adding that their contributions to the nation’s economy is enormous.

Metro

BREAKING: Bodies Of 8 Missing Policemen Recovered In Benue

Published

20 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Lifeless bodies of the eight policemen who were declared missing after a deadly attack on security operatives at Agu Centre, on the border of Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, have been recovered.

Dr Justin Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA disclosed this to reporters in Makurdi on Monday.

According to him, “this brings the number of officers killed to 11 (10 policemen and one BSCPG)”.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, when a team of security operatives came under the attack of armed invaders.

Three personnel were immediately confirmed dead while eight others were declared missing.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Kidnappers Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder

Published

20 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

She said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

According to the PPRO, the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

The statement read, “On 26th August, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, m of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19th September, 2025, at about 0200hrs arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the State in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, one jack knife and one stainless short knife,” Rivers police imagemaker said.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

The Command said it arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.