A Nigerian man identified as Jimmy Onyebuchi Isaac has recounted a distressing experience on his first day working with ride-hailing platform inDrive, claiming he spent about ₦85,000 on fuel, earned less than ₦50,000 from trips and later lost ₦150,000 after allegedly being attacked by a group of men.
Isaac shared his experience in a video, explaining that he decided to seek an additional source of income after recently acquiring a car and subsequently registered with inDrive.
According to him, his account was approved the previous evening, allowing him to begin accepting passengers the following morning.
He said he started his day by purchasing fuel worth ₦85,000 before setting out to take customers around Lagos.
Despite being busy throughout the day and completing several trips, Isaac said his earnings were disappointing compared to his fuel expenses.
“Since morning, all the work that I did, every work that I did, there was no place I did not go today. Customers came, I’m not going to lie, it was fun.”
However, after reviewing his earnings, he claimed he had made less than ₦50,000, even though there was still some fuel remaining in his vehicle.
His situation reportedly became worse later in the day when his car stopped unexpectedly around Victoria Island.
Isaac said he initially thought the vehicle had developed a battery problem and attempted to restart it several times without success.
He eventually opened the bonnet and discovered that the battery terminal had shifted.
“I told them that my car had no problem. I said I just wanted to pull my battery head. Immediately I opened my bonnet, I saw that my battery head had shifted.”
According to Isaac, while he was attempting to fix the issue, more than five men allegedly approached and surrounded him.
He claimed the men began demanding money from him and prevented him from leaving the area despite his explanation that his car had only developed a minor fault.
Isaac alleged that the situation escalated when some of the men pushed him, while another reportedly held a sharp object against his body.
“Those who pushed me, they pushed me. Those who used the short knife one short, sharp object like that it was pinned down from my side, from my belly here.”
He claimed the men initially demanded ₦200,000 from him.
Isaac said he told them he did not have that amount and pleaded with them, offering ₦50,000 instead.
However, he alleged that the men rejected the offer and threatened to search his vehicle and take his belongings if he failed to pay.
“I started begging. I said everything I could offer them was ₦50,000. They did not agree. They said okay, if I offered them ₦50,000, they would ransack my car and collect all the valuables.”
Isaac further claimed that two of his phones were taken during the incident.
He said he eventually paid ₦150,000 in order to end the confrontation, describing the incident as a daylight robbery.
“To cut a long story short, I, Jimmy Onyebuchi Isaac, I pressed them ₦150,000. Daylight robbery. Plus the money that I made on inDrive today, plus the small amount I had in my account. They carried everything.”
Reflecting on the experience, Isaac questioned whether working with a ride-hailing platform was worth the risks, particularly after what he described as a difficult first day.
He also expressed frustration over insecurity and the broader economic situation in Nigeria, saying the incident had made him rethink his decision to seek an additional source of income.
“But you see this stream, it’s not flowing. I just wish I was at home and they followed me.”
