The lifeless body of a middle-aged man was discovered inside his vehicle early Friday morning at the Samphino Road junction in Kpansia, a suburb of Yenagoa.
The deceased’s identity, believed to be a Bolt triver had not been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Eyewitnesses said they found the body and quickly alerted security agents, who arrived to secure the area.
Preliminary findings suggest the man may have been shot at close range by suspected armed robbers around 1am, possibly during an attempt to steal his car or other valuables.
Although the full details were still unclear, some reports suggested that the attackers may have requested the ride through the Bolt app.
The killing has however raised fresh concerns about the safety of drivers using ride-hailing services in the state.
The incident has sparked renewed anxiety among residents.
Members of the drivers’ union and other stakeholders have called on the police to expedite their investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
A Bolt driver, Mr. Victor Okorie, who expressed shock and frustration over the killing of a fellow driver said, “So sad, another person has been murdered in his car this morning at Samphino Junction. What is really happening? This state don dey tire me oh! We should be extremely careful in this town, especially those doing night job. The town is not safe again.”
Spokesman of Bayelsa Police Command, Musa Mohammed who confirmed the incident, said that the command has commenced preliminary investigation.
Mohammed urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or persons in their communities.
Reacting to the incident, a senior police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We are working to gather all necessary intelligence. Forensic teams have been deployed to the scene and we are also liaising with the Bolt company to retrieve trip data that may help in tracking down the culprits.”
