In Maiduguri, Borno State, pandemonium erupted on Friday as policemen and officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service engaged in a chaotic shootout.
Zagazola Makama, a renowned counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, disclosed the incident involving the firing of various firearms, causing fear among local residents.
The clash occurred at a police outpost within a housing estate along the Maiduguri-Kano highway.
The outpost had been occupied by the Nigeria Immigration Service since 2014 due to previous attacks on security personnel. However, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Yusuf, recently ordered divisional police officers to reclaim all abandoned police outposts, aiming to bolster the city’s security.
After the directive, the Bulunkutu Division police officers intended to reclaim the outpost from the immigration officials.
However, their attempt led to a chaotic situation when the NIS personnel denied them access.
The immigration officials were reported to be surprised by the sudden morning invasion without any prior notice.
As a result, they decided not to leave the outpost, even though it was marked with the Nigeria police insignia.
“The situation escalated when both parties began firing their rifles into the air, causing panic among the residents of the 777 housing estate. Many residents of the Estate who mistaking the confrontation for a Boko Haram attack, fled for their lives,” Manama posted.
“The situation was eventually deescalated by nearby Nigerian Army troops from the 33 Artillery, who intervened and calmed both the police and NIS officials.
“Additionally, a mediation team from the Crack Division, led by CSP Mohammed Ibrahim, was dispatched by the Commissioner of Police to address the disagreement between the two parties.”
