Army-Navy Personnel Clash Publicly in Bayelsa During Tinubu’s Visit (Watch)

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State witnessed ugly scenes on Friday when soldiers of the Nigerian Army and naval ratings came to blows in full public view. The confrontation broke out as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was leaving the venue of an official event in the state.

A viral 53-second video now circulating widely shows a driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” exchanging words with another driver before a soldier carrying a rifle stepped forward and threw the first punch. The situation quickly degenerated into a free-for-all, with personnel from both sides trading blows while civilians looked on in shock.

Residents who gathered at the scene kept their distance, many fearing the fight could spiral out of control and lead to gunfire. Some brave onlookers tried to pull the fighting men apart even as panic spread through the immediate area.

NaijaChoice News gathered that the clash started over a disagreement on movement control and access routes around the presidential convoy. Eyewitnesses said the argument escalated within seconds into the physical confrontation captured on camera.

The Nigerian Navy moved swiftly to contain the embarrassment. Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunso, confirmed that the naval personnel involved have been arrested and are already undergoing administrative and disciplinary procedures in line with military regulations.

President Tinubu had been in Bayelsa to commission key projects and used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s resolve to equip and train the nation’s security forces against insurgency, banditry and other threats. The timing of the brawl has left many Nigerians questioning the level of coordination among the armed services.

No official word has come from the Nigerian Army yet on the incident. The development has triggered fresh debate across the country on discipline and inter-agency rivalry within the military, especially in the volatile Niger Delta region where seamless security cooperation is critical.

Watch Video:

Full Video: Moment a Fight Broke Out Between Military Personnel’s Today In Bayelsa State

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— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) April 10, 2026