VIDEO: Armed Nigerian Policemen, Civil Defence NSCDC Operatives Exchange Blows Publicly In Osun
A video has surfaced showing police officers and operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) engaging in a physical altercation in Osogbo, Osun State. According to reports gathered by SaharaReporters, the clash took place earlier this week at Elizabeth Estate in Abere, Osogbo.
The incident allegedly began on Tuesday when police officers attempted to arrest a resident without a warrant. NSCDC operatives reportedly intervened to stop the arrest, which escalated tensions. On Thursday, the police returned with additional personnel, confronting the NSCDC officers, leading to a violent exchange. In the footage, officers from both sides can be seen exchanging blows and slapping each other.
A resident who witnessed the incident described how the police, one of whom was dressed in plain clothes, aggressively slapped and injured an NSCDC operative before detaining him and taking him to the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Osogbo. “Sadly, their commandant (NSCDC) hasn’t responded or taken any action regarding the incident,” the witness added.
Efforts to reach Yemisi Opalola, the police spokesperson for Osun State, were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered and a text message sent to her mobile remained unreturned at the time of this report.
Inter-agency conflicts among security operatives in Nigeria are not new. In 2023, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and officials from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) clashed at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over the custody of former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele. Video footage from the incident showed DSS agents dragging and hitting an NCS officer outside the courtroom. Similarly, in 2022, soldiers reportedly attached to the Army Ordnance Corps of the 81 Division Nigerian Army fatally assaulted a police officer in Lagos.
In 2021, the Nigerian Army raised concerns over alleged police brutality towards its personnel, which had reportedly led to serious injuries and fatalities. In a letter addressed to all formations, Major General J. A. Ataguba called on military officers to document incidents of police aggression, highlighting friction in joint operations with police and other security agencies, which has occasionally led to harm or death among military personnel. The letter also emphasized the need for remedial measures to address these recurring incidents.
