The Lagos State Council of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has condemned a disturbing viral video where an InDrive driver placed a child in the boot of a vehicle during a trip.
The footage, which surfaced earlier this week, has sparked widespread outrage and concern across the country. The child’s identity and the circumstances surrounding the trip remain unclear, but AUATON has described the act as “inhumane, unsafe, and criminal,” calling for immediate government and law enforcement intervention.
“We strongly condemn this inhumane, unsafe, and criminal act. It represents a gross violation of safety standards, moral ethics, and basic human dignity,” said Comrade Jaiyesimi Azeez, Chairman of AUATON Lagos State Council.
AUATON clarified that the individual seen in the video is not a registered union member and is not recognised in any official capacity. The union further emphasised that it does not condone or tolerate unethical or illegal conduct among drivers, regardless of platform affiliation.
The ride-hailing union used the incident to highlight broader safety concerns it had previously raised about the InDrive platform, accusing the company of negligence in its driver verification processes.
“Unlike responsible operators, InDrive has refused to collaborate with AUATON or conduct proper driver verification through our systems despite multiple formal engagements and calls to action,” the statement read.
According to AUATON, this is not the first troubling report linked to drivers on Indrive’s platform. The union noted it had earlier petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly over the platform’s alleged disregard for safety, regulatory compliance, and professional oversight.
“Had InDrive cooperated with our regulatory oversight and verification framework, incidents like this could have been prevented,” the union asserted.
In response to the viral video, AUATON called on the Lagos State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, and other relevant authorities to launch a thorough investigation, identify the driver involved, and ensure accountability through legal action.
The union is also urging Indrive to immediately suspend the onboarding of unverified drivers and implement robust passenger safety measures.
“AUATON remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard the interests of both drivers and passengers by promoting responsible practices across all app-based transport platforms,” the statement added.
