South Africa police have arrested a female suspect in connection with the hijacking and murder of 22-year-old Nigerian student and e-hailing driver Isaac, whose body was found riddled with bullets in Atteridgeville, Pretoria West.
The suspect faces charges of hijacking and murder and is expected to appear before the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo, preliminary investigations indicate that Isaac was killed by a male and female who booked his e-hailing service in Pretoria West on Wednesday, February 11. The hijacked vehicle and the victim’s body were discovered the same day in Atteridgeville.
Masondo confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests anticipated soon.
Isaac, who was set to graduate in a few weeks and relocate to Canada for further studies, had been driving his father’s car while working part-time as a Bolt driver to support himself. His father is a Christian missionary based in South Africa.
A disturbing dashboard camera video, now widely circulated, captured the horrifying sequence of events. The footage shows two male hijackers strangling Isaac from the backseat while their female accomplice, seated in the front passenger seat, assisted by holding his legs and attempting to grab his phone as he fought back and tried to call for help.
Despite Isaac’s desperate struggle to keep control of the steering wheel, the attackers overpowered him, strangled him, and pulled his body to the backseat. The woman then used his phone’s torchlight to search the car before the group abandoned the vehicle, leaving Isaac’s body inside.
Nigerians in South Africa report that Isaac’s body was recovered with multiple bullet wounds—allegedly shot 12 times—indicating he may have been shot after being strangled.
Community members and fellow Nigerians have described Isaac as a decent, hardworking student whose life was tragically cut short. The incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for improved safety measures for ride-hailing drivers in South Africa.
Police continue to appeal for information that could assist in apprehending the remaining suspects.
