How Uber drivers were murdered in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended seven suspects in connection with the killings of two Uber drivers in the Lekki and Ajah areas of Lagos.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olarenwaju Ishola, disclosed this during a press briefing on Saturday, highlighting the command’s recent successes in combating crime.

The first case involved a four-member syndicate—Emeka Akwara, 19; David Segun, 21; Samuel Ariori, 21; and Lukman Ariori, 19—accused of murdering a driver on January 9. According to Ishola, the suspects ordered an Uber ride from Chevron, Lekki, to Obalende. Upon reaching a secluded area, they stabbed the driver multiple times in the neck during an attempted robbery but failed to steal the vehicle.

“Thanks to the intervention of good Samaritans, two suspects were immediately apprehended and handed over to the police. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the other two suspects,” Ishola said.

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The deceased’s body was deposited at the Mainland Hospital morgue in Yaba. A Toyota Camry vehicle, knives, and other items were recovered from the suspects.

In a separate incident on September 12, a three-man syndicate—Edmond Julius, 34; Abdullahi Umar, 32; and Saturday Oke, 40—was arrested for killing another Uber driver, Oluwaseyi Fowler.

The suspects reportedly kidnapped Fowler in the Ajah area, murdered him, and sold his Toyota Camry to a criminal receiver. The police recovered the decomposed body of the victim alongside the stolen vehicle.

The commissioner confirmed that the suspects had been charged to court.

Issuing a stern warning, Ishola advised ride-hailing drivers to exercise caution when picking up passengers, recommending that drivers avoid carrying multiple passengers at once and insist on basic security checks.

“This is the third such case reported in three months. We don’t know how many have gone unreported,” Ishola said. He also announced plans to summon ride-hailing drivers for a security briefing to provide precautionary measures.

The Lagos State Police Command continues its commitment to ensuring safety and justice for residents and visitors alike.