The Nigerian Navy has confirmed the arrest of its personnel involved in a widely circulated video showing uniformed military officers engaged in a public fistfight in Bayelsa State during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit on Friday.
The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunso, disclosed the development on Saturday via his official X handle, stating that those involved were already in custody and undergoing formal disciplinary procedures. “The affected personnel are in custody and already undergoing appropriate administrative and disciplinary procedures in accordance with extant military regulations,” he wrote.
The incident, which has gone viral, was captured in a 53-second video showing a driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” stepping out of his vehicle and getting into a verbal confrontation with another driver. Moments after returning to his vehicle, a rifle-bearing soldier approached and threw a punch at the naval officer, igniting a chaotic free-for-all. Personnel from both vehicles immediately joined the brawl as shocked civilians watched the extraordinary scene unfold in broad daylight.
Also Read: Embarrassment in Bayelsa: Soldiers and Naval Personnel Exchange Blows During Tinubu’s State Visit
The clash took place as President Tinubu was departing the venue of an official commissioning event during his working visit to the state. The cause of the altercation had not been officially determined as of press time.
The Navy’s swift response in arresting its personnel and initiating disciplinary proceedings signals an effort by the service to contain reputational damage from an incident that has drawn sharp public criticism. Whether the Army will take similar steps against its personnel involved in the brawl remains to be seen.
The episode is an uncomfortable postscript to what was otherwise meant to be a high-profile presidential visit, during which Tinubu commissioned major infrastructure projects including a 60-megawatt gas turbine power plant and pledged his administration’s continued commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security forces.
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