This strained relationship started with a 1953 motion for self-government for Nigeria in 1956 tabled in the House of Representatives by a member of the Action Group (AG), Chief Anthony Enahoro.
The leader of the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, in a countermotion, replaced "in the year 1956" with the phrase "as soon as practicable".
When the Northern delegates left the House, they were confronted by hostile crowds in Lagos who insulted, jeered, and called them all sorts of names.
The last straw that broke the camel's back was the tour by a delegation of the AG and NCNC led by Chief Samuel Akintola.
The situation became more serious and became an inter-ethnic crisis on 17 May when mobs of hooligans from Northern section of Kano, in particular Fagge attempted to break into the Southern and Igbo dominated Sabon Gari area with some success, though their original chants were against the Yorubas, the casualties in the Sabon Gari area were mostly Igbos.