A 29-year-old Bolt driver, Emmanuel Effiong Ita, has been found dead inside a Honda City vehicle along the Target–Udy King axis of Calabar, Cross River State.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday, August 28, saying the circumstances surrounding the driver’s death were still being investigated.
According to the police, Ita, a resident of Ikot Effanga Mkpa in Calabar, was discovered in connection with the vehicle on Thursday, August 28.
Following the discovery, police personnel were immediately deployed to the location. However, the deceased’s remains had already been taken by family members to the General Hospital Mortuary.
A preliminary examination reportedly revealed an injury to his chest.
The police said the vehicle had been recovered and relevant evidence preserved for forensic examination as investigators work to determine exactly what happened to the young driver.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a discreet and comprehensive investigation.
He added that the authorities would make further information available as the investigation progresses.
The death has raised concerns about the safety of ride-hailing drivers, who often work long hours and transport passengers to unfamiliar locations, sometimes at night.
Drivers operating through platforms such as Bolt depend heavily on digital trip information, passenger details and location tracking for their safety. However, when a driver encounters a violent incident, investigators may need access to trip records, phone data, vehicle information and other evidence to reconstruct the circumstances.
The Cross River Police Command has urged members of the public to avoid speculation and refrain from circulating unverified information about the case.
The warning comes amid public concern over the circumstances surrounding the death and the possibility that the driver may have been the victim of a violent attack.
However, the police have not publicly established that Ita was murdered, nor have they identified any suspect in connection with the incident.
The cause and circumstances of his death therefore remain subject to investigation.
The incident also highlights broader concerns about security within Nigeria’s growing ride-hailing industry.
Thousands of drivers across the country rely on ride-hailing services as a source of income, making their safety an increasingly important issue for transport regulators, technology companies and security agencies.
For many drivers, the nature of the job means accepting trips from strangers and travelling through different parts of cities, sometimes with limited knowledge of the passenger or destination.
Safety advocates have consequently called for stronger measures to protect drivers, including improved passenger verification, emergency response systems, real-time monitoring and faster communication between ride-hailing companies and law-enforcement agencies.
At the same time, passengers also depend on these services for safe transportation and require assurances that drivers and vehicles operating on the platforms meet appropriate safety standards.
The investigation into Ita’s death will therefore be closely watched by his family, colleagues and the wider ride-hailing community in Cross River.
The police have assured the public that efforts are underway to establish the facts and ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.
For now, however, authorities have urged restraint while forensic and investigative procedures continue.
The death of the 29-year-old driver has left his family and colleagues mourning while raising fresh questions about the risks faced by workers in Nigeria’s expanding gig economy.
As investigators work to determine what happened along the Target–Udy King axis, the priority remains clear: establish the circumstances of Ita’s death, identify those responsible if foul play is confirmed, and ensure justice for the deceased.
