BREAKING: Soldiers caught Police officers wearing ordinary clothes though they were kidnappers

BREAKING: Soldiers caught Police officers wearing ordinary clothes though they were kidnappers

🚔🚨BREAKING: Soldiers caught Police officers wearing ordinary clothes though they were kidnappers –
Army Mistook Plainclothes Police for Kidnappers at Imo Checkpoint the situation turns to A dangerous misunderstanding between Nigerian security forces it nearly turned deadly on Sunday evening when soldiers mistook plainclothes police officers for kidnappers at a checkpoint in Owerri, Imo State.

The incident happened around the Orji Flyover on the evening of July 12, 2026.

According to eyewitnesses, armed police officers were traveling in a white bus. They stopped several young men along the roadside and forced them into the vehicle. The police did not identify themselves or explain why they were making the arrests.

People watching nearby thought they were seeing a kidnapping in progress. Worried residents quickly alerted soldiers at a nearby military checkpoint.

The soldiers stopped the white bus, believing they were dealing with kidnappers. A violent clash between the two security forces was avoided only when the people inside the vehicle finally identified themselves as police officers.

After the soldiers stepped in, some of the young men who had been arrested were released.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a civil rights group, has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into what happened.

RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the incident raises serious concerns about how some police operations are carried out.

“If these reports are accurate, the incident raises serious concerns about the manner in which police operations are being conducted and the consequences of tactics that create fear rather than public confidence,” RULAAC said in a statement.

The group stressed that police operations should be

Intelligence-driven
Professional
Lawful
Clear and identifiable

“Law enforcement operations should never be carried out in a manner that resembles criminal abduction or unnecessarily exposes both officers and civilians to grave danger,” the group added.

The rights group wants the Imo State Police Command to
Identify the officers and unit involved in the operation
Check whether the operation followed the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Act, and other legal guidelines
Find out how the young men were arrested and whether their rights were violated
Make the investigation findings public
Hold anyone found guilty accountable

RULAAC said it has already reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police in Imo State. The Commissioner reportedly said the issue was already being addressed.

RULAAC warned that incidents like this damage public trust in the police. They also undermine efforts by the Nigeria Police Force leadership to promote professionalism, accountability, and community policing.

The group has appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident or has photos or videos to come forward and help with the investigation.