By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral Idris Abbas |
YENAGOA, NIGERIA – The Nigerian Navy has officially moved to restore order within its ranks, confirming the arrest of several personnel involved in a public scuffle with soldiers in Bayelsa State. The incident, which took place on Friday, April 10, 2026, occurred against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to the region.
The altercation gained immediate national attention after a 53-second video surfaced on social media, showing uniformed officers engaged in a physical confrontation that quickly spiraled into a "free-for-all" brawl.
According to the viral footage and witness accounts, the drama began as President Tinubu was departing the venue of an official engagement. The video captures a driver of a Hilux vehicle labeled “Naval Police” stepping out to confront another driver in a verbal dispute.
The situation turned violent when a soldier, armed with a rifle, approached the naval driver and struck him, triggering a wider scuffle. Personnel from both sides were seen trading blows while stunned bystanders watched. The chaotic scene has since drawn widespread criticism from Nigerians, many calling it an embarrassing display of indiscipline.
Responding to the fallout on Saturday, the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunso, confirmed via his official X handle that the personnel involved are no longer on duty and have been taken into custody.
“The affected personnel are in custody and already undergoing appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures in accordance with extant military regulations,” Folorunso stated.
The Navy emphasized that the military maintains a zero-tolerance policy for such misconduct and is working to ensure that inter-service relations between the Army and Navy remain professional and cohesive.
The clash marred what was otherwise a high-profile visit by President Tinubu, during which he commissioned several key infrastructure projects, including 60-megawatt gas turbine plants at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area.
While the exact cause of the friction between the drivers remains under investigation, military authorities have assured the public that the "unfortunate" incident does not reflect the standard of coordination between the branches of the Nigerian Armed Forces.