Tensions between Nigerians and South Africans have escalated, with a new battleground emerging on ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber. The conflict reportedly began after South Africans started placing fake ride orders targeting Nigerian drivers.
These orders are made from the comfort of homes or offices, directing drivers to specific pick-up locations only to cancel the rides upon arrival. Online posts show South Africans mocking the Nigerian drivers, referencing the recent controversy involving Nigerian-born South African, Chidimma Adetshina, who withdrew from the Miss Universe pageant after xenophobic attacks.
The situation is particularly harmful for Nigerian drivers who are already facing a cost-of-living crisis and fuel shortages, leading to significant financial losses from these fake orders.
this is one of the screen shot.
In response, Nigerians have decided to retaliate, taking the prank to another level. Instead of just wasting South African drivers’ time and fuel, Nigerian pranksters are engaging the drivers in lengthy conversations and giving them real but unrealistic locations. For instance, one Nigerian prankster told a Cape Town driver they were at the Ilorin post office, making the driver believe it was a genuine location in Cape Town.
In a more extreme instance, a Nigerian prankster claimed they needed help transporting chopped human body parts, to which the South African driver shockingly agreed, even offering advice on how to properly package the dismembered bodies in black bags for easier transport, all for an additional fee.
“South African Bolt drivers go too suffer this morning. We go lower until we find oil,” a Nigerian fake rider said.
