Tension rose in parts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following reported attacks on northern traders in the Igwuruta axis of the city, culminating in a protest by youths demanding that Northerners vacate the area.
According to accounts from affected residents and traders, businesses owned by northern Nigerians were destroyed on Saturday during what witnesses described as unprovoked attacks by miscreants operating within Igwuruta. The incident was followed by a street protest in which some youths chanted “Aboki Must Go,” openly calling for the expulsion of Northerners from the community.
The protesters reportedly alleged that recent cases of killings and abductions in Port Harcourt were linked to Northerners, many of whom are engaged in petty trading, livestock commerce, food vending, and other legitimate livelihoods across the state. However, no verified evidence has been presented publicly to substantiate the sweeping claims against the traders as a group.
Community observers warn that the violence and rhetoric risk inflaming ethnic and religious tensions in a cosmopolitan city historically known for hosting Nigerians from all regions. Northern traders—often referred to locally as “Aboki” or “Malam”—have for decades formed part of the informal commercial ecosystem of Port Harcourt, supplying agricultural produce, meat, grains, and other goods to urban markets.
Analysts note that collective blame directed at entire communities can be fueled by longstanding stereotypes and generalized suspicion, particularly during periods of insecurity. Yet, security experts emphasize that criminal networks in Rivers State have long included cult groups, kidnappers, and armed gangs rooted within local communities, as well as cross-regional criminal actors, making broad ethnic attribution both inaccurate and dangerous.
The attacks in Igwuruta have also triggered concern among civic leaders who fear retaliatory tensions elsewhere if the situation is not promptly addressed. Across several northern states—including Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and the Federal Capital Territory—southern Nigerians live and conduct business in large numbers without facing organized attacks based on origin or religion. Residents in those regions often describe inter-regional trade and migration as central to Nigeria’s economic interdependence.
Rights advocates stress that targeting peaceful traders because of ethnicity or faith undermines constitutional guarantees of freedom of movement, residence, and enterprise. They argue that if there are credible security concerns about any individuals, the lawful approach is investigation by security agencies rather than mob action or mass intimidation.
Local authorities in Rivers State had not issued a detailed public statement on the Igwuruta incident as of press time, but community stakeholders are urging calm, dialogue, and the protection of all residents regardless of background. Traditional leaders and market associations are also being called upon to mediate tensions and prevent escalation.
Observers caution that narratives portraying any ethnic or religious group as inherently criminal risk deepening mistrust and could trigger cycles of reprisal across regions. They emphasize that criminality has no tribe, religion, or geography—and that effective policing depends on intelligence, cooperation, and rule of law rather than scapegoating.
As tensions linger, civic groups are appealing to residents to reject violence and reaffirm coexistence. Nigeria’s cities, they note, have long thrived on internal migration and shared commerce. Preserving that tradition of inter-regional coexistence remains essential to national stability, economic resilience, and social harmony.
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