Ride-hailing company inDrive says it is investigating the alleged armed attack and robbery of one of its drivers by passengers on its platform. In a statement from a company spokesperson seen by Technext, the company confirmed it was aware of the incident, which took place in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos.

Technext reported that a driver operating on the platform was robbed at gunpoint by the passengers he had gone to pick up. Stressing that it treats incidents of this nature with the utmost seriousness and that the safety and wellbeing of everyone who uses its platform is its highest priority, the company said it has launched an investigation to establish the facts.

"We have launched an internal investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident. As part of this process, the passenger's account has been blocked while the matter is under review, and our team is conducting a thorough assessment, including re-engaging with the passenger," the statement reads.

inDrive also expressed its willingness to cooperate fully with the relevant law enforcement authorities and to provide any information that may assist their investigation, in accordance with applicable laws and its privacy obligations. That places the case on two tracks — the company's internal review and any inquiry the relevant authorities may pursue.

"We remain committed to taking appropriate action based on the final findings of our internal investigation," the statement reads.

Drivers' Union Questions inDrive's Safety Mechanisms

The robbery took place on Sunday, October 25, in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos. According to the driver's account, he accepted the trip request on inDrive at around 4:30 a.m. On arriving at the pickup location, one of the riders got into the back seat while the other climbed into the front. As the journey began, the man in the front seat pulled out a pistol and demanded the vehicle, leaving the driver with no choice but to surrender his car.

The incident adds to safety concerns in a sector where e-hailing companies repeatedly emphasise how much they have invested in protective measures. Despite such commitments, safety remains a persistent problem in ride-hailing, with drivers regularly exposed to potentially life-threatening risks while working to earn a living.

Reacting to the incident, Steven Iwindoye, the Public Relations Officer of the Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) in Lagos State, accused the company of not taking safety on its platform seriously.

"Where are the effective passenger verification measures? Where is the emergency response system that drivers can rely on when their lives are in danger? What practical support is available to a driver who becomes a victim of a violent crime? We understand that no ride-hailing company can completely eliminate crime. But that is precisely why stronger safeguards, effective monitoring and a reliable emergency response system are necessary," AUATON said.

Those questions frame what to watch as the investigation proceeds: whether the findings speak to the passenger verification, emergency response and victim support measures the union questioned.

The development also comes at a time when inDrive's liability provisions in its Terms of Use have come under scrutiny, after it emerged that the company declined to accept liability for the safety of both drivers and riders on its app. The company has since carried out a review of its Terms of Use to assume greater liability and take more responsibility for the people who power its business. The robbery case may now present an opportunity for inDrive to demonstrate that commitment in practice, and the outcome of the investigation — together with any changes to verification, monitoring or emergency response that follow — will show how far that commitment extends on the ground.