The constant upsurges in violent crime with student cult activities and frequent use of dangerous weapons have caused increase in the level of injuries and casualties among civilians in Port Harcourt and its environs. This study was aimed at determining the pattern and treatment outcome of the injured patients from penetrating abdominal injuries (PAI) from July 2006 to February 2007. It was a prospective study, which commenced from July 2006 to February 2007, involving 52 patients with PAI admitted in the Accident and Emergency (A & E) unit of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and subsequently treated. Data were collected in proforma and analysed in form of tables, charts and plates. The period prevalence, aetiological factors and factors associated with increased morbidity and mortality of these injuries were determined as well as making recommendations based on the findings. Majority of the patients were males (80.8%) with male to female ratio of 4:1. The age groups mostly injured were those between 21-30 years with a mean age of 29.5 + 11.3 years. The period prevalence was 46.4 per 1000. The main causes of these injuries included armed robbery attacks (38.5%), secret cult activities (30.8%) and Police/Soldier gunshots (7.6%). The most implicated weapons were guns (high-velocity, 48.1% and lowvelocity, 23.1) as well as knife (13.5%) and broken bottles (9.6%). A predominant 80.0% of injured patients arrived hospital within six hours whereas a mere 3.8% of them either did so in less than one hour or not later than 72 hours. The mean arrival time was 4.6 + 7.3 hours. The mean of surgical intervention time was 5.39 + 2.09 hours. The clinical features noted were abdominal pain (96.1%), abdominal bleeding wounds (94.2%), anaemia (50.0%), evisceration (19.2%) and shock (15.3%) amongst others. Laparotomy was performed in 49 patients out of 52 victims involved in the study. The most commonly injured intra-abdominal viscera include small intestine (67.3%), colon (28.5%), spleen (6.1%), liver (8.2%) and stomach (4.0%).The injured organs were repaired based on standard techniques. Early complications such as anaemia (73.1%), wound infections (28.5%) and hypostatic pneumonia (4.1%) were observed. The mean hospital stay was 11.5 + 2.9 days. Mortality of 11.5% was recorded which resulted from septicaemia, septic shock and severe head injury. The reasons for high mortality were due clearly to late presentation to hospital and late referral from other hospitals. The number of organs injured and types of weapon used affected the severity and outcome of these injuries. Some of the laparotomies done would have been avoided if efficient monitoring devises were not inadequate. To decrease crime rate gainful employment, discouragement of illegal use of fire arms and empowerment of law enforcement agencies should be emphasized. There should be provision of well-equipped trauma centres and functional emergency medical response teams to evacuate and offer first aid treatment to trauma cases.