My name is Adeyemi Sonaike and in February 2022, I narrowly escaped being kidnapped by a Bolt driver.

When my Friday began on that fateful day, I imagined it would be a simple day, the biggest highlight was supposed to be me leaving my school campus for the weekend to spend some time with my family. I ordered my Bolt and when the driver arrived, I did what I was accustomed to: confirmed the license plate, the model of the car and the name of the driver. I got into the car and the driver started the trip, however, I had an uneasy feeling that something just wasn’t right. 

He offered me candy and I thought “how nice of him”, but then he started to apply perfume oil which was pungent and that didn’t sit well with me. I looked closely at the driver and discovered that he looked nothing like his picture. I questioned him immediately and asked why his picture on the Bolt app didn’t match his face. He told me he was helping his brother with that trip and while  I tried not to think much of it, when I noticed that the door handles in the backseat were missing. He then proceeded to make a call and said “I’ve got one” in Yoruba. It was then that it dawned on me  that I was in trouble.

I wanted to get out of the car immediately. I told him that I wanted to stop at the popular Maryland Mall to buy something, but he refused to stop, saying he would neither make stops nor end the trip until we got to the ‘destination’.

I texted my family members about what was happening and shared my trip status with them. They were gripped with fear and started calling me, but I  didn’t take their calls, in a bid to stop the driver from recognising that I was suspicious. Somehow, he figured out that I had alerted my loved ones and asked me if I was a ‘baby’ who felt the need to have her trip supervised. At that point,  I was scared and began to cry, because I genuinely thought that my end was near. 

Suddenly, I was filled with courage and demanded that he stopped the vehicle or I would break his windows. He refused, but when we got to Mobolaji Bank Anthony way, I noticed there was a policeman close by and demanded that he stop. He proceeded to call me all sorts of names and eventually stopped at Leventis Bus stop where he let me out, threw my things out of the car and sped off. I sat down by the side of the road and wept. It dawned on me that I probably just escaped death. I was so thankful to be alive and decided to share my experience via Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ade_IDD/status/1505317413440602115?t=jt4pFySZX_OM_HGyW1Ufxw&s=19

Two days later, another lady, who was reading my story on Twitter happened to be in the same car and was being driven by the same driver. She asked to use the ATM in an attempt to escape from whatever his evil intentions were and thank goodness she was able to escape like I was two days earlier

The bold nature of this driver and his antics is reflective of the gross incompetence of Bolt as a company. Sadly, this experience is one similar to that which many have had and many will have if something is not done urgently to hold such perpetrators accountable.

It’s for the above reasons that I'm asking you to join me in  calling on Bolt as an organization to:

1. Engage in extensive background checks on it's drivers;
2. Hold drivers accountable when reported by riders;
3. Host a sit down with Bolt riders to understand their concerns and the need for a significant change in public policy;
4. Better customer service centre er that offers real time solutions to customers who might need help.

Thank you as you sign this petition.

Yours sincerely,

Adeyemi Sonaike