A group of concerned residents has petitioned the Rivers State Government and security agencies over what they described as a growing pattern of alleged mob violence linked to some commercial motorcycle operators in parts of Rivers State, calling for urgent intervention to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

The petition, made public on Wednesday, was addressed to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the state, and the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command. It raised alarm over incidents of alleged coordinated attacks, intimidation, and resistance to lawful arrest in some communities.

According to the petitioners, Rivers State has a long-standing reputation for peaceful coexistence among people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, including many law-abiding residents engaged in legitimate trade and commerce. They stressed that their concerns relate strictly to alleged criminal conduct by specific groups and not to any ethnic community as a whole.

The petition cited reported incidents in Rumualogu community, where a dispute in late January 2026 allegedly escalated into a tense situation following the rapid mobilization of a large group of commercial motorcycle riders. Residents claimed the situation caused widespread fear before security operatives intervened.

Another incident highlighted in the petition reportedly occurred in Omuolu Omuwei community in Igwuruta, within Ikwerre Local Government Area, where residents alleged that a large number of motorcycle riders stormed the area in a coordinated manner, leading to violent confrontations and loss of lives.

Eyewitnesses quoted in the petition alleged that the attackers arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, some carrying offensive weapons, and reportedly overpowered local security operatives during the confrontation. These claims, however, have not yet been independently verified by security agencies.

The petitioners further alleged a recurring pattern in which traffic accidents or disputes involving commercial motorcyclists quickly escalate into mass mobilization, road blockages, and resistance to police intervention, complicating efforts to enforce the law.

They warned that if the situation is not urgently addressed, it could provoke retaliatory actions by local youths, heightening the risk of communal tension and violence in the state.

The petition also drew attention to what it described as regulatory gaps in the commercial motorcycle sector, noting that previous restrictions in parts of Port Harcourt and surrounding areas had helped reduce crime, but enforcement has weakened in recent times.

Among the recommendations put forward were the immediate deployment of reinforced security personnel to affected communities, thorough investigation and prosecution of all alleged perpetrators, stricter enforcement of laws against the carrying of offensive weapons, and renewed regulation or restriction of commercial motorcycle operations in urban and semi-urban areas.

The petitioners also called for the registration and profiling of commercial motorcycle operators and engagement with recognized community leaders to isolate criminal elements and prevent ethnic stereotyping.

They urged the state government and security agencies to act swiftly and decisively, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences for public safety, economic activity, and inter-communal harmony in Rivers State.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Rivers State Government or security agencies regarding the allegations raised in the petition.