A growing trend in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has left many vehicle owners wary of offering lifts to strangers, as some ladies have allegedly adopted a new method of extortion. Three men who recently fell victim to this scheme have shared their troubling experiences.
The modus operandi involves these ladies standing by the roadside and requesting a ride from unsuspecting drivers. However, upon reaching their destinations, they refuse to leave the vehicle, instead demanding payment for an alleged “outing and good time.” Those who refuse to pay are threatened with public embarrassment or false accusations.
This practice appears to be increasing in certain areas of the city, prompting many drivers to swear off offering lifts altogether.
Victims Share Their Experiences
One victim, a worker in the Ososami area, recounted how he was forced to part with ₦5,000 after giving a lady a lift to Challenge.
“I finished work around 6:30 p.m. and saw a lady asking for a ride to Challenge. Wanting to help, I let her in. However, when we arrived, she refused to get down, insisting I pay her or she would raise an alarm, claiming I took her out for a good time and refused to compensate her,” he said.
As a deacon in a popular Pentecostal church, he feared the consequences of a public scandal and chose to pay the amount to avoid embarrassment.
Another man, a colleague of the first victim, had a similar experience in Dugbe. He picked up a woman who claimed she was headed to Cocoa House, only for her to demand payment upon arrival.
“She started shouting that we had been together for hours. A crowd gathered, but I insisted on taking the matter to the police. I called my office, and our Chief Security Officer arrived to confirm I had been at work all day. Realizing she was caught, the lady confessed and left without collecting any money,” he narrated.
A third victim, a university classmate of the previous men, recounted an incident where a woman showed up at his house early on a Sunday morning, claiming she had forgotten her purse in his car after they supposedly went out together the previous day.
“I was shocked because my wife and I had been out visiting family friends all day on Saturday. My wife, overhearing the conversation, threatened to pour hot water on the lady if she didn’t leave immediately, which made her leave in haste. Later, I jokingly asked my wife what she would have done if I had actually been out alone that day,” he said.
Police Acknowledge the Scam
A senior police officer from the Oyo State Command confirmed that several cases of such extortion have been reported, though investigations have revealed them to be fraudulent. The state police command’s Public Relations Officer, Wale Osifeso, also acknowledged awareness of the trend and warned perpetrators to desist or face legal action.
As this scam continues to spread, residents of Ibadan, particularly vehicle owners, are urged to exercise caution when offering lifts to strangers to avoid falling victim to such deceptive tactics.
