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General News of Friday, 7 June 2019

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Uber breaks silence on driver’s involvement in Canadian kidnapping case

Francesca Uriri, Head of Communications for Uber West Africa play videoFrancesca Uriri, Head of Communications for Uber West Africa

Uber has debunked reports of the involvement of one of its drivers in the kidnapping of two female Canadians in the Ashanti Region.

The Uber driver whose name is being withheld is believed to be the one who transported the Canadians from their residence and due to that he was arrested by the police in connection with the kidnapping that happened on Tuesday, June 4 at Ahodwo, Kumasi Royal Club.

Reacting to the issue, the Head of Communications for Uber West Africa, Francesca Uriri denied the allegations saying the driver in question is not a suspect.

According to her, the driver is just assisting the police with investigations and has not been arrested as earlier reported.

“The unfortunate incident that happened in Kumasi, very unfortunate, anything of that nature is unfortunate. However, the police have confirmed that the Uber driver in question is not a suspect and his number is available online so this is not a thing that I am saying, you can also do your digging and confirm. He’s not a suspect,” she confirmed.

The women, aged 19 and 20 who were kidnapped outside a hostel were volunteers for the Youth Challenge International.

According to reports, the two were bundled into a vehicle at about 8:20pm just when they had stepped out of their apartment.

However, the Canadian Foreign Ministry says it has informed the women’s families and is working with the security agencies to rescue the victims.

The country has been rocked with kidnapping cases recently with the biggest of such cases, the kidnap of three girls in Takoradi, still unresolved. Police have for months been under pressure from the media and activists demanding the rescue of the three girls.

The kidnap of the Canadian girls brings to two the number of cases of foreign nationals being kidnapped in Kumasi this year, with the first being an Indian, Umpakan Chodri, who was later rescued at Parkoso in the Asokore-Mampong municipality by the police.

The kidnappers in this case demanded a 500,000 US dollars ransom after sending photographs of the victim to his family with a gun pointed into his head.