From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Hundreds of app-based transport operators, particularly Bolt drivers, on Wednesday took to the streets of Yenagoa in protest over the gruesome murder of one of their colleagues, Emmanuel Eden, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
The drivers, armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “Stop Harassing Bolt Drivers,” “Bolt Drivers Are Breadwinners,” “We Need Better Security,” “No to Brutality and Killings,” and “Governor Diri, Come to Our Aid,” marched peacefully from the Tombia Junction through major roads in the Bayelsa State capital.
The protest drew the solidarity of members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and several civil society organizations, who joined in demanding justice and improved security for e-hailing drivers in the state.
One of the protesters, Jolly Adomokeme, told Salient Times that the demonstration was a peaceful call for justice for their slain colleague.
“Though the police have been our partners in safety, some bad eggs among them harass and extort drivers and passengers. We are calling on the police to live up to their duty and stop these acts of intimidation,” he said.
Another protester, Goodness Okure, urged both the Nigeria Police and the Bayelsa State Government to urgently investigate the killing and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The late Emmanuel Eden was a hardworking man who left behind a young wife and two children. His family is devastated, and we demand justice on their behalf,” she said.
Eden was reportedly shot dead on May 29, 2025, at Samphino Junction in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa. His lifeless body was discovered early the next morning inside his vehicle by passersby, who alerted the police. Security operatives promptly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.
The protesting drivers are demanding increased security for e-hailing operators, an end to police harassment, and swift justice for the Eden family
