Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, widely known by his stage name Portable, has stirred social media reactions after he passionately appealed to the Nigerian government to place an outright ban on prank videos across the country. His statement comes after a dramatic encounter at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Sunday, which quickly went viral online.
As earlier reported by Gistreel.com, the ‘Zazu’ crooner was captured in a widely circulated video wearing beige-colored attire as he furiously attempted to confront an unidentified man. The tense moment drew attention from airport security personnel and onlookers who rushed to restrain the singer and prevent the situation from escalating further.
In the footage, chaos erupted as uniformed guards struggled to hold Portable back and escort him toward a waiting vehicle in the airport parking area. The environment turned rowdy as several bystanders shouted in confusion. One individual was seen barefoot, while another held what appeared to be a belt or whip, adding to the tense atmosphere of the scene.
Reacting to the incident in a follow-up video posted on his official Instagram page on Monday, Portable claimed that he had been ambushed by individuals he described as “death pranksters” — a term he coined for people who stage extreme, dangerous, and potentially life-threatening pranks merely for social media fame and online views.
Speaking emotionally in a mix of English and Yoruba, the street-hop artist said: “Those people came to prank me. They were death pranksters. It almost turned to cultist level. Ten yellow no fit stand one blue.”
He maintained that the confrontation was not a publicity stunt, but a deliberate setup that left him shaken and publicly embarrassed. Portable further emphasized that the viral incident has damaged his reputation and portrayed him negatively in the media, despite being a victim of people seeking attention at his expense.
Expressing his frustration, the singer called on government authorities to regulate or ban prank-related content altogether, stressing that such acts could lead to violence or loss of lives. He also took a swipe at bloggers who, according to him, thrive on spreading false stories to gain followers and engagement online.
In his words: “Make government stop all those prankers and some fake bloggers. Make them stop all this fake news post just because of small fame. Why una dey spoil person wey get glory name with una platforms,” he lamented.
The video has since generated a wave of mixed reactions from fans and netizens. While some sympathized with Portable, saying prank culture has gotten out of hand in Nigeria, others argued that the singer’s temper often makes situations worse. Still, many agreed that pranksters who take things too far should face legal consequences.
Portable, who is known for his outspoken personality and dramatic outbursts, continues to trend online as the debate grows around whether the government should indeed step in to regulate social media prank content.
Watch video below