Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Ilorin, Nigeria — A rare and troubling confrontation between elements of the Nigerian Army and police officers on official patrol erupted in Kwara State on Tuesday evening, resulting in injuries to a police officer and the arrest of three soldiers, according to a situation report from local authorities. The incident, which occurred along the Shao–Malete Expressway near Shao town in central Kwara, has drawn swift condemnation from security officials and raised concerns about discipline and command coordination within Nigeria’s security apparatus.
According to the police account, a patrol team from the Shao Police Unit was conducting routine checks at approximately 5:45 p.m. on December 23, 2025, when officers stopped two motorcycles for inspection. As the officers approached the riders to enforce compliance with traffic and security regulations, the occupants, later identified as members of the Nigerian Army, allegedly disembarked and immediately confronted the police with aggression. During the encounter, one police constable, identified as PC Abdulganiyu Abdullateef, suffered injuries while attempting to carry out his duties.
Eyewitnesses and the official report indicate that the soldiers attempted to disarm and physically overpower the police officers at the scene, prompting immediate alarm among the patrol team. The situation escalated quickly, forcing the police to summon reinforcements from their divisional headquarters. However, before additional officers could arrive, the assailants fled the scene on foot, leaving behind the motorcycles.
In the immediate aftermath of the assault, law enforcement initiated a manhunt that culminated in the arrest of one person at the scene — a local man, Saka Suleiman, who had been riding one of the motorcycles used by the fleeing soldiers. Suleiman was detained and later cooperated with investigators, identifying one of the suspected soldiers as Saka Jamiu, a native of Shao.
Police efforts continued throughout the night. By around 1:00 a.m. on December 24, 2025, authorities had successfully apprehended the remaining suspects at different locations. The three arrested individuals — Atunwa Adekunle, Ishola Awolola, and Saka Jamiu — are all reported to be male natives of Shao and members of the Nigerian Army. A dagger-style knife was reportedly recovered from the group during the arrests.
State police commanders confirmed that the suspects are being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ilorin, the state capital, for further questioning and formal charges. Police have assured that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and that appropriate disciplinary and legal actions will follow once the inquiry concludes.
The incident has sparked brisk reactions from both police leadership and segments of civil society, with many questioning how a situation involving uniformed members of Nigeria’s security forces could deteriorate into mutual hostility. The Nigerian Army and Police Force traditionally operate under separate command structures, often collaborating on joint operations against insurgents, bandits and other threats. An occurrence of direct confrontation between personnel of the two services is unusual and potentially damaging to public confidence in coordinated security operations.
While the strategic and operational relationship between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force has at times been strained, particularly during complex internal security operations such as counterinsurgency efforts in the northeast and anti-banditry campaigns in the northwest and central regions, incidents of intra-security force violence on active duty remain rare. Analysts note that systemic pressures — including poor communication channels, unclear rules of engagement, and individual disciplinary lapses — can sometimes lead to breakdowns in cooperation.
In Kwara, where security forces are heavily engaged in combating criminality and banditry that have afflicted several local government areas this year, the arrest of soldiers by police marks a perplexing disruption in what authorities have sought to portray as unified security efforts. The state has experienced a spate of violent incidents in recent months, including deadly attacks by armed gangs and heightened military-led operations targeting kidnappers and other criminal elements.
Senior police officials in the state stressed that maintaining public order and the rule of law remained paramount. In a brief statement, the Kwara State Police Command reiterated that any member of the security services found breaching the law or engaging in disorderly conduct will be held accountable irrespective of rank or affiliation. The statement underscored that the police will treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves as it unfolds through the judicial process.
Security analysts observing the episode have called for clear directives from the federal government and military high command to ensure that overlapping roles and jurisdictional ambiguities between security agencies do not devolve into frictions that undermine national security. They argue that robust engagement on inter-agency coordination and enhanced conflict resolution mechanisms are essential, especially when services with distinct mandates operate side by side in volatile environments.
Residents of the Shao–Malete corridor, a key transport axis in central Kwara, expressed shock at the development. Many said they were unsettled by the sight of uniformed soldiers fleeing from police and the ensuing effort to arrest them. Some community members called for calm, urging security agencies to resolve internal disputes transparently to prevent erosion of trust among the citizenry who rely on these forces for everyday protection.
The Kwara incident adds to a broader conversation in Nigeria about the need for comprehensive reforms in security sector management, especially as the nation grapples with diverse threats ranging from insurgent violence in the northeast to banditry and communal clashes across central and southern regions. Observers maintain that a cohesive security architecture — supported by clear operational protocols and strict discipline — is indispensable for Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and infrastructure amid persistent insecurity.
As investigations proceed and the detained soldiers are held to account, the nation’s security leadership faces mounting pressure to publicly clarify measures that will forestall similar incidents and reinforce unity of purpose among all security agencies entrusted with defending Nigeria’s peace and territorial integrity.
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