Seven individuals are currently in police custody in Lagos, Nigeria, over their alleged involvement in the killings of two Uber drivers in separate incidents across the Lekki and Ajah areas.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olarenwaju Ishola, confirmed the arrests on Saturday while addressing the press at the command headquarters.
The suspects, aged between 19 and 21 years, are said to have been part of two criminal syndicates responsible for the murders.
CP Ishola explained that the police arrested four individuals and later apprehended another three-man gang involved in the killings.
According to the police, the first incident occurred on January 9, when the suspects ordered an Uber ride in the Chevron area of Lekki, intending to travel to Obalende.
Upon reaching a secluded spot in Obalende, they allegedly attacked the driver, stabbing him multiple times in the neck.
However, the suspects were unsuccessful in stealing the vehicle. A good Samaritan, who witnessed the incident, assisted in capturing two of the suspects and handed them over to the authorities. This led to the arrest of the remaining members of the gang.
The deceased driver’s body was later taken to the Mainland Hospital Yaba mortuary, while a Toyota Camry, license plate AGL 650 HN, and knives were recovered from the suspects.
In a related case, CP Ishola discussed another incident on September 12, 2024, in which a three-man syndicate, aged between 32 and 40, was arrested for the alleged murder of another Uber driver, Oluwaseyi Fowler.
The suspects confessed to kidnapping the driver from the Ajah area, robbing him, and killing him before stealing his Toyota Camry. The car was later sold to a criminal receiver. Police later discovered Fowler’s decomposed body.
CP Ishola noted that the suspects have been charged to court and urged e-hailing drivers to be vigilant while on duty.
He advised drivers to limit their passengers to one at a time, conduct searches of their passengers, and even request that passengers sit in the front seat for added safety.
This latest series of murders marks the third reported case of Uber driver killings within the last three months, though authorities remain uncertain about the total number of such incidents.
As the investigation continues, the Lagos State Police have stressed the importance of cooperation between the public and law enforcement to combat such violent crimes and ensure the safety of e-hailing drivers.