Lagos, Nigeria — In a distressing incident in Lagos, a female commercial driver was allegedly assaulted by a man after she caught him trying to steal her car battery. The suspect, believed to be an Agbero — a street tout common in parts of Nigeria — reportedly attacked the woman when she confronted him.
The driver, who has not yet been identified, recounted the ordeal in a viral video that showed her in tears, with visible swelling on her face. According to her, the attack occurred when the man, posing as a passenger, attempted to remove the vehicle’s battery while near the Oriental Hotel in Lagos.
The woman, through her bruised state, pleaded for help in the video, urging viewers to contact human rights organizations on her behalf. “Look at my face, look at what he did to me,” she said in the footage, emotionally highlighting the physical and psychological trauma she experienced.
The alleged perpetrator was reported to have become violent when questioned by the driver about his actions. “He started beating me when I asked him where he was taking my battery,” she explained. The assault escalated further as he tore her clothes and dragged her around in public view, intensifying the humiliation and harm she suffered.
The incident sheds light on the broader challenges facing female drivers in Lagos, who are frequently subject not only to thefts but also to physical violence. The driver expressed her disillusionment with the local transport unions and Lagos State authorities, condemning their lack of intervention and accusing them of ignoring the consistent harassment and violence that women in her profession face.
“This man must be brought to justice. Let him be an example. I won’t leave him until I get justice,” the driver stated determinedly in the video. She underscored the persistent risks she endures in her line of work, questioning whether the profession of a female commercial driver itself was being criminalized.
Further complicating the issue is her claim that her attacker is associated with a notorious group of street thugs known for targeting drivers, particularly for stealing car batteries and other valuables from vehicles.
The case brings to the forefront the urgent need for more stringent protective measures for commercial drivers, especially women, and calls for a crackdown on the activities of Agberos who contribute significantly to the insecurity in Lagos’s public transport network.
Rights advocates have since rallied support for the victim, emphasizing the importance of legal recourse and the enforcement of justice for victims of such street violence. Activists are calling for interventions that go beyond mere acknowledgment of the problem, urging systemic changes that will ensure safety and justice for all commercial drivers in Lagos.
The Lagos State government and relevant authorities have yet to respond to this particular case, prompting public demand for accountability and immediate action to address the safety concerns of those who serve the bustling city’s transport needs.