- Personnel from the Nigerian Army and Navy were caught in a physical altercation in Bayelsa State on Friday, sparking widespread concern over military discipline.
- A 53-second video trending online shows the moment a soldier punched a Naval Police driver, leading to a wider brawl as bystanders watched in shock.
- The clash occurred just as President Bola Tinubu was concluding his visit to commission projects and advocate for greater unity among the nation’s security agencies.
A public dispute between members of the Nigerian military marred President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Bayelsa State on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the confrontation, which was documented by several witnesses and shared across social media, broke out between personnel attached to the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy.
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The disturbance reportedly began as President Tinubu was departing from an official event, turning what should have been a secure environment into a scene of chaos as uniformed men exchanged blows in public.
The conflict allegedly started following a verbal disagreement between the driver of a vehicle marked “Naval Police” and another military driver.
According to the footage, a soldier armed with a rifle approached the naval driver and initiated the physical fight.
This quickly escalated into a free-for-all as personnel from both units joined the fray.
The sight of armed soldiers and naval ratings fighting in the streets left civilians stunned and has raised serious questions about the professional conduct of the units assigned to high-profile executive protection.
The incident is particularly striking given the President’s remarks earlier that day.
During his visit to commission new infrastructure, President Tinubu had reaffirmed his government’s dedication to strengthening the armed forces and fostering a collaborative environment to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.
He emphasized that inter-agency cooperation is the backbone of his strategy to eliminate banditry and insurgency, a message that was directly contradicted by the physical rivalry displayed on the ground.
While the specific trigger for the fight remains unconfirmed, the military high command is expected to launch an investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
Public reaction has been swift, with many Nigerians calling for strict disciplinary measures to serve as a deterrent against such displays of lawlessness.
