VIDEO: Hoodlums pelt artiste Mavo’s car with stone

Fast-rising Afrobeat artist Marvin Ukanigbe, known professionally as Mavo, has become the latest victim of street extortion in Lagos, highlighting a persistent issue of harassment faced by celebrities and the public in the city. The incident occurred when Mavo reportedly refused to give money to a group of individuals commonly referred to as 'area boys' in the Island area of Lagos State. This refusal escalated into an attack on his vehicle, as captured in a video Mavo shared on his Snapchat handle.

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A clip he uploaded on Tuesday on his Snapchat handle showed a group of young men, commonly referred to as “area boys”, surrounding his car in the Island area of Lagos State.

The footage clearly depicts a tense confrontation, with the group surrounding Mavo's car as it moved slowly. One member of the group is seen throwing a stone at the vehicle in an apparent display of anger and intimidation. The artist's decision to share the video serves as a stark warning and a plea for awareness regarding the dangers of such encounters. The incident underscores the audacity of these groups who often operate with impunity, targeting individuals for monetary demands.

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One of them was seen charging at the vehicle as he threw a stone at it in anger.

This event is not isolated. As The Punch reports, similar cases have surfaced recently, with other public figures like content creator Samuel Bankole (Samuel Banks) and TikTok personality Hamzat Habeeb (Peller) also complaining about threats and attempted harassment from street thugs in Lagos after refusing to comply with their demands. The recurrence of these incidents raises concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement in curbing such criminal activities. While Mavo suggested in a follow-up post that some suspects might have been apprehended, the lack of independent verification at the time of reporting leaves the situation somewhat unresolved, emphasizing the ongoing challenge of addressing street crime and extortion in major Nigerian cities.

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The confrontation reportedly began after the group demanded money from the artiste, and escalated when he declined.