Bolt driver, Kelechi Uzor, has turned himself in to the Rivers State Police Command to prove his innocence following the disappearance of Elizabeth Edukumor.
Elizabeth was reported missing on October 9, 2023, after being dropped off by Uzor at Harmony Estate in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The family put out a call for information on Facebook, stating that Elizabeth tried to get home from her aunt’s place in Harmony Estate, but was unable to reach home.
Elizabeth’s last known location was in Harmony Estates, where her cell phone could not be reached and was turned off.
Uzor, accompanied by human rights activist Prince Wiro, visited the Okpolo Police Station in Lumuodara, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, where he denied any involvement in Elizabeth’s disappearance.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, October 28, Uzor explained that he decided to contact the police because of persistent phone calls and threats from the missing woman’s family.
According to him, he drove Elizabeth Edukumor to Harmony Estate on October 9.
He said that he had parked outside the estate because he needed a permit to enter. After Ms. Edukumor received permission to enter the estate, he dropped her off and she paid him in cash.
Uzor stated that he followed security procedures and was checked both entering and leaving the complex.
After that pick-up and drop-off, Uzor received a phone call inquiring about the woman’s whereabouts.
He explained that he had only provided the pick-up and did not know of her conversation.
The driver said he began receiving threats and requests to meet with individuals, including a man claiming to be the girl’s uncle.
On October 9, 2023, she booked a car on the Eastern Bypass (in Port Harcourt). I took her to the Harmony Estate in Elioz. When we got to the estate, we parked, because you can’t enter an estate without the permission of the people inside,” he explained.
‘The lady [Elizabeth] gave me permission to enter, so I went into the estate and parked my car at the residence where she was going.
When I entered the complex, I was checked by the security guard. They checked everything in my car and gave me permission to leave the estate.
‘Later that evening, a woman called me and asked if I had picked her (Elizabeth) up from the estate. What I did was to drop her off at the apartment complex and leave the place”.
‘Later that day, another man called and asked me if I had heard anything or if she (Elizabeth) had called me anything. I said no.
The next day some people called to invite him to an area. He asks.
“I said no, they can’t do that I have to book Bolt first before I can pick anyone. They kept calling and I found out that one of them was supposedly the girl’s uncle”.
“So after I refuse to see them, they are now telling me that I am Bolt’s driver who took Elizabeth to so and so place. I told them yes, that I had dropped the girl off and explained that I had left.
‘Since then I started getting threatening phone calls from the uncle threatening me that this girl was a bad market and that I should bring her in alive. He also threatened me with many other things. The police did not call me, but the calls and threats were getting worse, so I went to the police station to tell my side of the story.
‘Why are the girl’s parents threatening me, because I was not involved in her disappearance. That is why I came to the police station to complain. Human rights activist Wilo advised the family of the missing girl to notify the police instead of meeting privately with Bolt’s driver.
He stated that Uzor had visited the police station to ask for his assistance and to cooperate with the investigation.
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