Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Benin City, Nigeria — A shocking and brazen attack involving assailants disguised in military uniforms has claimed the life of a Nigerian soldier at a roadside checkpoint in Edo State, deepening concerns about the increasing prevalence of fake security checkpoints and impersonation by criminal elements across the country.
The victim, identified as Corporal Irabo, was travelling back to his base in Abuja on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, after the expiration of his official pass, when his vehicle was stopped at what appeared to be a legitimate military checkpoint. According to security sources, the checkpoint was manned by armed men wearing military attire — a disguise that led the corporal and other passengers to believe they were interacting with genuine soldiers.
The attackers instructed occupants of the vehicle to identify themselves. When Corporal Irabo declared that he was a serving soldier, those posing as military personnel allegedly opened fire at close range, fatally shooting him before fleeing the scene. The soldier died instantly from his wounds.
Security analysts say the incident highlights a disturbing trend in which criminal groups — including armed bandits and kidnappers — set up fake checkpoints and wear military uniforms to deceive motorists and security personnel alike, creating confusion and enabling ambushes or other criminal acts. Impersonation of security forces has been reported in various parts of the country and is widely viewed as a tactic to undermine public confidence in legitimate law enforcement operations.
The killing of Corporal Irabo has prompted renewed calls for enhanced oversight and better coordination among security agencies to clamp down on unauthorised checkpoints and the use of military-style uniforms by civilians or criminal elements. Community leaders and residents along major highways in Edo and neighbouring states have expressed alarm, emphasising that such attacks not only terrorise travellers but also endanger the lives of those serving in the nation’s armed forces.
As of this report, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Edo State Police Command had issued an official statement confirming the circumstances of the attack or outlining steps being taken to apprehend the perpetrators. Security sources, however, say that investigations are underway and that authorities are working to determine how the assailants obtained the uniforms and whether the attack was part of a broader criminal campaign along the highway.
The killing of a serving soldier under such confusing and deceptive conditions has fuelled public unease about the safety of travel on highway routes, especially in regions where criminal networks and insurgent groups maintain active presence. Observers say that more robust intelligence-sharing, community vigilance, and rapid response measures are critical to preventing similar incidents in the future.
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