Controversial Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has broken his silence following the circulation of a heated altercation captured on camera at Port Harcourt International Airport, insisting the incident was the result of an elaborate prank that spiraled out of control.
In a video statement released shortly after the footage went viral across social media platforms, the “Zazoo Zeh” crooner offered his side of the story, painting a picture of what he describes as a confrontation with content creators known for pushing boundaries in pursuit of online engagement.
“They were pranksters,” Portable explained in the clip, his tone a mixture of frustration and vindication. The artist went on to characterize the group as “death pranksters” – individuals who have apparently built a following on TikTok through increasingly controversial stunts designed to provoke extreme reactions from unsuspecting targets.
According to the singer’s account, the pranksters approached him at the airport with what appeared to be innocent intentions before the situation deteriorated. Portable described their modus operandi in detail, alleging that the group typically operates with six members who stage elaborate hoaxes involving fake deaths.
“One of them will pretend to die in your house,” Portable claimed, explaining their typical scheme. “Then all of them will show up, crying and carrying on for days. Then suddenly, the person ‘comes back to life.'”
The artist’s explanation suggests he may have believed he was being set up for one of these notorious pranks, though the exact sequence of events leading to the physical confrontation remains unclear. The original video, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views since surfacing online, shows what appears to be a tense exchange that turned physical, though the context was initially unknown to viewers.
This latest controversy adds to Portable’s growing reputation for finding himself at the center of public disputes. The singer, who rose to prominence in 2021, has previously made headlines for various confrontations and outspoken behavior, though he maintains his actions are often misunderstood or misrepresented.
The incident has reignited broader conversations about the ethics of prank culture, particularly among content creators willing to provoke confrontations for viral content. Critics argue that such stunts, especially those involving death or serious injury, cross ethical boundaries and put both pranksters and their targets at risk.
As of press time, the alleged pranksters have not publicly responded to Portable’s claims, and it remains unclear whether any formal complaints have been filed with airport security or local authorities regarding the incident.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nigerian singer Portable claims the viral airport fight in Port Harcourt was a prank gone wrong. He alleges he was targeted by TikTok pranksters notorious for staging fake deaths to provoke reactions from victims, then filming the fallout for content.
The incident highlights the dangerous escalation of extreme prank culture, where content creators risk real violence in pursuit of viral fame. Neither the pranksters nor the airport authorities have responded to verify his account.
