A tense clash involving at least two soldiers and two police officers disrupted activities at a busy market in Jos, Plateau State, sparking fear among traders and residents.
The confrontation took place at the GSM Centre in the Hamaz area of the city. While official details are still limited, multiple eyewitness reports circulating on social media indicate that the altercation started after a disagreement between a soldier and a roadside phone repairer.
According to a Facebook post by Bello Lukman, the incident escalated when the soldier became furious, accusing the repairer of further damaging his phone instead of fixing it. Lukman said the soldier attempted to arrest the trader, but a police officer nearby intervened and insisted the matter should be handled at a police station.
Lukman added that the soldier later summoned fellow troops who arrived in a Hilux vehicle. The reinforcements allegedly assaulted the police officer, injured him, and seized his rifle. As a result, police personnel reportedly withdrew from the area while traders sought the presence of other security operatives to prevent the situation from deteriorating. A serious tragedy may have been averted, as the officer had already cocked his weapon during the confrontation.
The Plateau State Police Command later confirmed the incident, noting that calm had been restored.
In a statement, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Alabo Alfred, said:
“The Plateau State Police Command is aware of the altercation that occurred on December 1, 2025, between some military personnel and police officers around Hamaz, Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos.”
He stressed that the matter was treated with utmost seriousness and subjected to investigation. The officers involved, he said, have been disciplined by their respective institutions.
SP Alfred assured the public that corrective steps have been taken to ensure such an episode does not happen again. “The misunderstanding between the two security agencies has been thoroughly addressed, and measures are now in place to forestall any future occurrence,” he added.
