Soldiers Open Fire on Policemen Returning from Anambra Election, Several Officers Injured
A violent confrontation erupted on Sunday evening, November 9, 2025, in Onitsha, Anambra State, when Nigerian Army personnel allegedly opened fire on police officers returning from duty after the Anambra governorship election.
According to SaharaReporters, the shooting occurred at a military checkpoint along Onitsha Road following a heated disagreement between the two security units. Eyewitnesses say the altercation began as a verbal exchange but quickly escalated when soldiers allegedly fired at the police convoy.
A police officer who spoke to SaharaReporters under anonymity said, “We had a misunderstanding with Army personnel at a checkpoint. Before we knew what was happening, they opened fire on us. One of us was shot directly in the chest, and several others sustained injuries.”
The officer added that the situation quickly descended into chaos, with calls for backup as tensions rose between the two forces. Reports indicate that the incident briefly caused panic in the area, as residents and motorists fled to avoid being caught in crossfire.
The violent encounter came just a day after the November 8 Anambra governorship election, where incumbent Governor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Soludo secured 422,664 votes, defeating Nicholas Ukachukwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 99,445 votes. Paul Chukwuma of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) came third with 37,753 votes, while John Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 8,208 votes.
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About 45,000 police officers were reportedly deployed to the state for the election, alongside army personnel and members of other security agencies — part of a broader effort to maintain peace during the poll. However, the latest clash raises serious questions about coordination, discipline, and mutual respect among Nigeria’s security forces.
Reactions to the incident flooded social media within hours, reflecting deep frustration with the state of Nigeria’s security institutions. On Nairaland, a popular online forum, users expressed shock and anger, with some describing the event as “a disgrace in uniform.”
User ebukal67x wrote, “In what world does the army shoot at policemen? This is so wrong on every level.” Another user, thisisit, commented, “Signs of a failed nation everywhere. The earlier the country is restructured into regional government, the better.”
Others mocked the situation, referencing longstanding rivalry between the Nigerian Army and Police. One commenter, Angelfrost, wrote, “Nobody go ever fit settle that everlasting beef between the thugs in green and the ones in black. All they know how to do is show muscle and shoot at one another.”
Meanwhile, some voices called for calm and an independent investigation, arguing that the issue points to deeper structural problems within Nigeria’s security system — including overlapping jurisdictions, poor training, and lack of inter-agency communication.
Analysts note that such incidents are not new. Tensions between the army and police have flared up in various parts of the country over the years, often triggered by issues of authority, territorial control, or misconduct during joint operations. These clashes have occasionally led to casualties and disciplinary hearings but rarely to systemic reform.
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Police Force had issued an official statement regarding the Onitsha incident. Security observers say the federal government must act swiftly to investigate the shooting and prevent further escalation between the two agencies.
For many Nigerians, the tragedy highlights a grim irony: while citizens look to the police and military for protection, the forces tasked with securing the nation continue to clash among themselves. As one Nairaland user summarized bitterly, “Force shoot force — that’s Nigeria in one sentence.”