Online taxi firm Bolt has restricted “inter-country” requests between Nigeria and South Africa after the two countries’ social media rivalry reached an all-time high – or low – with people booking and then cancelling rides in the other nation as a prank.

The drivers were pawns in this malicious game as they were sent on a wild goose chase to find passengers who weren’t even in the same country.

Munyaradzi Chinyama, a Zimbabwean Bolt driver based in Cape Town, told the BBC he received three ride requests before he realised they were not genuine. He said he wasted a lot of fuel, time and money.

Bolt told the BBC it had identified and blocked users participating in this cruel game.

“We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa,” it said in a statement.

It said inter-country requests would still work between other countries.

Mr Chinyama told the BBC he had been inundated with insulting messages through the Bolt messaging feature that connects drivers with passengers.

He said he was called various names, including “Mandela’s son”.

It is unclear how this “Bolt war” started but social media users in sub-Saharan Africa’s two biggest economies have a long history of trolling each other.

“When I’m bored, I request [Bolt] in Nigeria, akere their brothers are disrespecting us,” one user said on X on Tuesday. This seems to have set off the chain of events and Nigerians swiftly retaliated.

A disgruntled Nigerian driver based in Kano told the BBC he received an order for an airport trip from an international number but the person didn’t show up.

“I tried calling and calling but they didn’t answer. Then they cancelled the trip,” he said.

He said he wasn’t the only victim. Many of his colleagues faced similar issues.

Some social media users rallied behind the drivers, saying they were just trying to make a living.

“Uber and Bolt drivers are just trying to make ends meet. They aren’t on twitter trolling anyone. They are literally trying to earn an honest living. Please leave them alone. And i’m talking to both sides,” one X user wrote.

A second person said: “The bolt challenge is paining me because it’s innocent and hardworking people on both sides that are suffering for the wickedness and thoughtlessness of other people. Really unfair.”

In Nigeria fuel prices have rocketed in recent months. Many drivers would have wasted scarce fuel picking up non-existent customers.

The “Bolt-war” also reportedly caused prices to surge in both countries, leaving many people stranded as they couldn’t afford to pay for their rides.

South Africans and Nigerians often lock horns on social media.

They rowed most recently over the Miss South Africa controversy which saw a half-Nigerian contestant step down following xenophobic abuse.

The two African heavyweights have also pitted their popstars Tyla and Arya Starr against one another and exchanged insults over their national football teams.

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