By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A community mourns the tragic death of Ayo, a former motor mechanic turned cab driver, who was kidnapped and killed by passengers in Lagos. His death has sparked fresh conversations about the urgent need for taxi drivers to invest in their personal safety.
KosofePost recently reported that Ayo had accepted a ride request from unknown customers at a GTBank branch in Anthony Village for a trip to Igando, Lagos State. Other drivers refused the job, but Ayo took the risk. About a week later, his lifeless body was found tied and abandoned in Agbara, a Lagos suburb, while his assailants fled with his car. One suspect has been apprehended, while others remain at large.
In a live stream on TikTok, Anthony Village resident Ayinde Adesola shared details of Ayo’s sad fate. The stream was hosted by Bilesanmi Abayomi, better known as KOKO, the publisher of KosofePost. Abayomi, who had completed over 2,000 rides as a pioneer driver on Taxify (now BOLT), explained that safety concerns were a major factor in his decision to leave the e-hailing business in 2018.
He emphasized the importance of taxi drivers and e-hailing platforms adopting safety measures, such as installing dashcams to record rides. These recordings could serve as crucial evidence for law enforcement, insurance companies, or other organizations if a trip goes wrong.
WHATSAPP Reaction
The case of Ayo’s disappearance and untimely death is a sad incident in the recent time which can be alluded to a system failure. Obviously our security men on the major road are fantastically corrupt and only on the road to secure their pockets while the crime rate is unabated, the insecurity continues to increase across the country despite the huge yearly budgetary allocations hence our security men shenanigans and harassment of hardworking and dedicated citizens are unchecked by the relevant government office. Sad! Where are the security cameras allegedly installed by the state government? Where are the security men on the road checkpoint from Anthony village to Agbara where Ayo’s lifeless body was found? All these questions are begging for answers from the security agencies and the government.
At this point, our elected officials and leaders in power need to wake up from slumber to defend the citizens and the constitution they swore to protect. The security of lives of the people must be prioritized and place above the personal interest.
Lastly, I used this opportunity to appeal to the security agencies to fish out those behind the killing of Ayo and other eminent citizens who have been gruesomely murdered and bring them to justice as soon as possible.
Oloye Salami Oluwaseun
Safety is for both operators and customers, we have seen cases where cab operators unleashed terror on customers and the other way round as well, to both following factors can be considered;
Cab operators can consider the following safety mechanisms:
1. _CCTV Cameras_: Installing cameras inside cabs for surveillance.
2. _GPS Tracking_: Tracking cabs in real-time for added security.
3. _Panic Buttons_: Installing panic buttons for drivers and passengers to alert authorities.
4. Driver Verification_: Conducting thorough background checks and training drivers.
5. _Passenger Verification_: Verifying passenger identities through ID checks or phone number linking
6. Secure Payment_: Encouraging cashless transactions for added security.
7. _Regular Vehicle Checks_: Ensuring vehicles are in good condition through regular maintenance.
8. _Driver Fatigue Monitoring_: Limiting driving hours to prevent fatigue.
9. _Passenger Safety Briefings_: Providing safety information to passengers before trips.
10. _Emergency Response Plan_: Establishing a clear response plan for incidents.
11. _Driver Training_: Providing regular training on safety procedures and defensive driving.
12. _Passenger Feedback Mechanism_: Allowing passengers to report incidents or concerns.
13. _Partnership with Local Authorities_: Collaborating with authorities for incident response and prevention.
14. _Safety Apps_: Utilizing safety apps that allow passengers to share trip details with friends/family.
15. _In-vehicle Safety Equipment_: Installing safety equipment like fire extinguishers, first aid kits, etc.
16. _Regular Safety Audits_: Conducting regular audits to identify and address safety concerns.
17. _Driver Wellness Programs_: Supporting driver mental health and well-being.
18. _Passenger Safety Education_: Educating passengers on safety best practices and emergency procedures.
In implementing these safety mechanisms, cab operators can enhance the safety and security of their services.
In this challenging environment, both parties must ensure safety to avoid losses of lives and property, it’s quite sad going by the death of the cab operator stated in the story, in all facets of our lives, we should see safety as key element to avoid story that May touch our hearts,law enforcement officers should do more in order to apprehend the criminals at large for adequate punishment ( Omoba Awofeso Rasheed)