Renowned Nigerian artist Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, widely recognized as Portable, has urged authorities to impose a ban on pranksters following a recent incident at Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State.
The call to action emerged after a video circulated online showing Portable embroiled in a tense dispute with an unknown individual at the airport. The clip, lasting just under a minute, depicts the singer clad in beige clothing, being held back by security personnel to prevent the situation from escalating into a physical fight.
The chaotic scene reveals a scuffle involving several people, including one person without shoes and another wielding what appears to be a belt or whip, while a crowd gathers around. This event, which took place on a Sunday, quickly ignited a flurry of reactions across social media platforms.
Addressing the viral footage in a video posted on his Instagram the following day, Portable explained that he was the victim of a perilous prank orchestrated by individuals he labeled as “death pranksters.”
“They came to play a deadly prank on me. These are death pranksters. It almost escalated to cultist-level violence,” he stated, alternating between English and Yoruba. He further boasted, “Ten yellows can’t overpower one blue,” highlighting his toughness during the confrontation.
The singer behind the hit “Zazu Zeh” also criticized pranksters and certain bloggers for damaging his reputation in pursuit of online attention.
“I’m calling on the government to put an end to these pranksters and fake bloggers who spread false news just for a bit of fame,” he wrote. “Why are you ruining the reputation of someone with a respected name using your platforms?”
In a subsequent video, Portable revealed that he had investigated the pranksters’ online presence, discovering that the main instigator frequently posts similar “death prank” videos on TikTok.
“I checked the guy’s TikTok page; he has about five or ten videos like this. They fake death at people’s homes, causing families to mourn for days before revealing it was a hoax,” he explained.
“This individual has been smearing my name, and now there are rumors with price tags on me. It’s starting to resemble cult-related threats,” Portable added, noting that the pranksters operated in a group of six.
Having been involved in several public controversies over the years, including a time when he was declared wanted by the police, Portable emphasized that his reaction was provoked and not unprompted.
He ended his statement by expressing confidence in divine protection, assuring that those behind the prank would fail in their attempts to ruin his reputation or career.
