The police in Cross River State have commenced an investigation into the death of a 29-year-old man, Emmanuel Ita, whose body was discovered in connection with a Honda City vehicle along the Target–Udy King axis of Calabar on Friday. Mr Ita, a resident of Ikot Effanga Mkpa, Calabar, was found dead after an incident whose circumstances remain unclear, according to a statement issued by the police spokesperson, Sunday Eitokpah.
The police said officials were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving information about the incident. However, the deceased’s remains had already been taken by his family to a hospital mortuary, where a preliminary examination revealed an injury on his chest. The police said it has commenced a preliminary investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding Mr Ita’s death. “His vehicle has been recovered, while relevant evidence is being preserved for further forensic and investigative examination,” Mr Eitokpah said.
The police urged members of the public to refrain from drawing conclusions or circulating unverified information, saying the circumstances surrounding the death had not been established. “The command urges members of the public to refrain from drawing conclusions or circulating unverified information, as the circumstances of the incident have not yet been conclusively established,” the statement said. The case, according to the command, will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for “discreet and comprehensive investigation.”
The police statement followed an earlier report by an online newspaper which alleged that a bolt driver was stabbed to death by three unidentified robbers along Target Road in Calabar South. The report said the driver had picked up three men along Mbukpa Road and was heading towards Calabar Municipality when the passengers allegedly ordered him to stop and surrender his car key. According to the report, the driver resisted and was allegedly stabbed while driving. He reportedly managed to reach a nearby filling station before losing control of the vehicle, which veered into a gutter and struck a pavement. The report said the three suspects fled, while passersby took the injured driver to the General Hospital, Calabar, where he was confirmed dead. The police, however, did not confirm the robbery or stabbing allegation in their statement.
The death of the Bolt driver is a grim reminder of the dangers faced by ride-hailing drivers in Nigeria. The incident also highlights the challenges of ride-hailing platforms in ensuring the safety of their drivers. The investigation will be crucial in determining whether the driver was a victim of robbery or if there are other circumstances. The police’s call for restraint is a reminder that speculation can hinder the investigation.
The winners: none. The losers: the family of the deceased; the Bolt community, which has lost a driver; and the Nigerian public, who are reminded of the dangers of the gig economy.
Bottom Line: A Bolt driver is dead. The investigation is ongoing. The question is whether the police will find the perpetrators or the case will go cold.