How Army-Police Clash Resulted in Inspector’s Death at Adamawa Police HQ

An attack on the Adamawa State Police Command headquarters in Yola on Tuesday night resulted in the tragic death of a police inspector. Initially feared to be a Boko Haram assault, the incident unfolded when soldiers from the 23 Armoured Brigade engaged in a heated confrontation with police officers on duty.

The clash originated from an altercation at Target Junction in Jimeta, where three soldiers confronted policemen during a routine stop-and-search operation. Tensions escalated when a soldier attempted to disarm a policeman with a jackknife, leading to the fatal shooting of the soldier in the leg. In retaliation, soldiers, accompanied by military equipment, stormed the police headquarters in a reprisal attack.

Eyewitnesses reported a fierce gun battle, with residents initially mistaking it for a Boko Haram attack. One police officer revealed, “It was a rain of bullets; they fired, and we returned fire. In the end, they killed an inspector and took away his rifle.”

Police Public Relations Officer Sulaiman Nguroje confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation had been initiated in collaboration with the military leadership to address the issue. Brigadier General Gambo Muhammad, the Brigade Commander, claimed that soldiers were at the police headquarters to rescue a comrade shot and detained by the police.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri expressed his concern, deeming the incident unacceptable and calling for calm and tolerance. In a press statement, he urged security personnel to exercise restraint and emphasized the need for mutual respect and understanding.

As of press time, a joint press conference between the army and the police was reportedly underway at the government house in Yola, indicating efforts to resolve the conflict and restore order.