Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers

Hundreds of millions of naira worth of goods were destroyed in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, following violent protests targeting northerners after the killing of a local resident in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area. The unrest has heightened ethnic tensions and drawn attention to security and community relations in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

The crisis began after Nchelem Samuel Festus, an indigene of Igwuruta, allegedly stole a motorcycle from a shop owned by northerners. During efforts to recover the motorcycle, he was reportedly stabbed and later died from his injuries. Residents claimed northern commercial motorcyclists were responsible, sparking protests that quickly escalated. Demonstrators also accused northerners of other crimes, including rape and kidnapping, intensifying local tensions.

Protesters blocked the Port Harcourt International Airport Road, demanding an immediate ban on northern motorcycle riders, the closure of scrap dump sites operated by northerners, the arrest of those responsible for Festus’ death, and the vacation of farmlands by cattle herders. They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to security agencies, warning that failure to address their demands could compel the community to act, while claiming their actions would remain within the law.

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Tensions worsened on Saturday, when a wheelbarrow pusher, Zakara Afaaruwu, allegedly stabbed a trader from Benue State, Higightor Wenem (30), at Oil Mill Market during a dispute over trading space. The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the arrest of the suspect and said the victim’s body had been deposited at the morgue for autopsy. This incident sparked renewed attacks on northern traders in Igwuruta, with several businesses looted and vandalised.

Speaking on the unrest, Mr Musa Saidu, Chairman of the Hausa Community in Rivers State, urged residents not to criminalise northerners over isolated incidents. He called for calm and emphasised that crimes should be addressed by security agencies rather than retaliated against entire communities. Saidu described the destruction of goods worth hundreds of millions of naira, stating that while many traders suffered losses, no fatalities were reported among northerners during the protests.

The Rivers State Police Command, through Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of suspects linked to the market stabbing and said that law enforcement had acted to restore order. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Chief Charles Wobodo, imposed a nighttime ban on commercial motorcycle operations from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for one month, effective February 12, 2026, to help prevent further incidents.

Traders and residents recounted harrowing experiences during the unrest. Muhammadu Inuwa Abubakar described attacks in Eleme Junction, where ethnic tensions escalated after reports of a Fulani man stabbing a Tiv man. Police intervention helped prevent further casualties, though some residents were injured. Community leaders are working with security agencies to de-escalate tensions and prevent further violence.

The incidents have reignited discussions about ethnic coexistence, law enforcement effectiveness, and peaceful conflict resolution in Rivers State. Authorities and community leaders continue to urge calm while investigating the killings and restoring order in affected communities.

Hundreds of Millions in Goods Destroyed as Protests Against Northerners Erupt in Rivers