By Adekunle Falana and Oluwadamilola Ologbon
Foremost Nigerian skitmaker and content creator, Samuel Banks is currently making the headlines as the newest victim of infuriating hooliganism, public humiliation and abuse by entitled urchins known as area boys, touts or punks on the streets of Lagos.
While Samuel Banks works hard to hone their craft, create content and entertain his audience, hooligans and touts who meander across the streets of Lagos without a sense of purpose or direction are surreptitiously creeping in the shadows, waiting to extort him and assault him should he choose not to engage in their hullabaloo.
The hooligans on the streets of Lagos shattered Banks’s windscreen and vandalised his vehicle, as seen in a video shared by eelive.ng. Banks is just one of the multiple victims of the nefarious schemes of Lagos hooligans. They beg a lot, acting as if they are entitled to your income, then rob innocent hardworking people like it’s child’s play.
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Samuel Banks: From TikTok to the World
Born Samuel Bankole, he is a Nigerian skit maker, comedian, and digital content creator best known online for his comedic videos and his alter ego “Arike Preorder.” He gained popularity by posting funny, relatable skits on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where he built a large following thanks to his energetic performances, expressive characters, and humorous takes on everyday situations.
What Really Happened to Samuel Banks on the Streets of Lagos?
The incident involving Samuel Banks occurred in Lekki, Lagos, where street boys (commonly referred to as area boys) allegedly stoned his Mercedes-Benz after he refused to give them money. According to reports, the attack damaged the vehicle’s windshield, and Banks noted that this was not the first time his car had been vandalised in a similar manner near the same area.
The event highlights the aggressive tactics employed by these touts, who often start with demands for cash and escalate to property damage or violence when refused, which underscores the issue of entitlement and extortion on Lagos streets, where hardworking individuals like Banks become targets simply for being visible or perceived as successful.
The Turkish Tourist’s Complaint on Nigeria’s Begging Culture
Another recent example of Nigeria’s begging culture that caught international attention was the case of the Azerbaijani travel vlogger Davud Akhundzada, who visited Lagos and other parts of Nigeria in late 2025. Akhundzada documented extensive experiences with persistent begging and harassment. He described encountering extreme poverty, with people constantly approaching him for money, even in markets and slums.
In one video, Akhundzada expressed shock at the scale of begging, stating he had “never seen or experienced anything like this before” and that he faced ongoing demands for help or cash throughout his travels.
This foreign viewpoint increases local concerns, showing how Nigeria’s begging epidemic affects not just residents but also visitors, potentially damaging the country’s image abroad.
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iShowSpeed’s Tour to Nigeria: Exposing the Chaos in Lagos
American YouTuber and streamer iShowSpeed (Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) also brought global eyes to the begging culture during his African tour stop in Lagos in early 2026. Just minutes into his livestream, he was overwhelmed by crowds of beggars and area boys repeatedly demanding money, leaving him in disbelief.
The young streamer admitted he had underestimated the situation, believing Nigeria to be more developed, but was shocked by the nonstop approaches from men on the streets, chanting, “Give me money.”
The incident escalated in areas like Lagos Island, where touts surrounded him, turning his visit into a chaotic display of hustle culture gone awry.
These incidents, from Samuel Banks’ vandalism to the complaints of international visitors like Akhundzada and iShowSpeed, reveal a deeply entrenched begging culture in Nigeria, particularly in urban hubs like Lagos.
What begins as pleas for aid often turns into aggression, fueled by poverty, unemployment, and a lack of social safety nets. While Nigeria, the Giant of Africa, boasts vibrant creativity through figures like Banks, the shadow of street extortion undermines progress and safety.
Addressing this menace requires policy interventions, such as improved law enforcement against touts, and economic empowerment programs to shift from entitlement to self-reliance. Until then, stories like these will continue to hit the spotlight and raise voices.
