Security concerns have again come into focus in Rivers State following renewed calls for stronger action to safeguard lives and property amid reports of rising criminal activity.
The Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, commended government and security agencies for ongoing efforts to improve safety but stressed the need for more decisive measures to enhance street security and curb crime.
According to him, the security situation in the state cannot be separated from broader national challenges in Nigeria, including insurgency linked to Boko Haram and other violent activities in parts of the country. He noted that displacement from conflict zones has led some individuals to relocate to relatively peaceful areas such as Rivers State.
The advocacy group alleged that some newcomers, often engaged in informal occupations such as scrap collection, market labour, cattle rearing, and street trading, may use these activities as cover for criminal acts. These claims were presented as concerns requiring security attention and were not independently verified.
The group also warned about the potential formation of organized criminal networks and urged closer collaboration between government authorities, civil society groups, vigilante outfits, market unions, and community organisations to identify suspicious activities and strengthen preventive security measures.
Several incidents were cited as examples of unresolved violence, including past attacks linked to herder conflicts, a killing at Obio/Akpor International Market, and a reported February 14, 2026 stabbing at Oil Mill Market in Port Harcourt. Another incident referenced involved a woman who reportedly escaped an alleged attack at Eze Gbakagbaka Market.
YEAC-Nigeria further stated that reports from its youth volunteer network in the Niger Delta suggested allegations of police inaction or interference in some cases. The organisation noted these claims remain unverified but said such perceptions could undermine public confidence in law enforcement.
The group called on the Rivers State government to strengthen enforcement of existing laws, improve documentation of traders and workers in markets, and regulate informal activities such as scrap and metal collection to curb crime and vandalism.
It stressed that proactive collaboration between authorities and communities would be critical to maintaining peace, security, and public safety across the state.
