FACT-CHECK: Did Nigerian Army and Navy Clash During Tinubu’s Visit to Bayelsa?
Claim: A viral video circulating across Facebook, X, WhatsApp and other social media platforms claims that personnel of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy clashed during the visit of President Bola Tinubu to Bayelsa State on Friday.
Background: In the 53-second video, a convoy of security vehicles is seen moving along a road before a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” abruptly stops. A naval personnel steps out and appears to exchange gestures, reportedly signaling “waka” (move on), towards army personnel.
Moments later, tensions escalate as another uniformed officer approaches, leading to a physical altercation between personnel of the two agencies. Onlookers are seen watching as the situation unfolds.
The footage has triggered reactions online, with many users describing it as another example of inter-agency rivalry within Nigeria’s security forces.
Verification: To verify the authenticity of the claim, PRNigeria’s fact-check team conducted a frame-by-frame analysis of the viral video and performed reverse image searches.
Findings show that the video began circulating widely on April 10, 2026, coinciding with President Tinubu’s visit to Bayelsa State.
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Further investigation confirmed that the incident indeed occurred during the presidential visit. The Nigerian Navy officially acknowledged the altercation, confirming that personnel involved in the clash have been identified and taken into custody.
Credible media organisations also reported the incident, (here and here), corroborating the authenticity of the video and confirming that disciplinary action has commenced.
Additionally, in an official statement shared via X (formerly Twitter), the Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abi Folorunsho, confirmed that the officers involved have in custody and are undergoing internal disciplinary procedures.
Conclusion: PRNigeria’s fact-check investigation confirms that the viral video is authentic and accurately depicts a real incident involving a clash between Nigerian Army and Navy personnel during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Bayelsa State.
Authorities have since taken disciplinary action against those involved.
Verdict: True.
PRNigeria Fact-Check Desk applies open-source intelligence, official statements, cross-verification across multiple credible sources, and direct source confirmation. To report a claim for fact-checking, contact: [email protected]
PRNigeria Fact-Check Desk | [email protected] | www.prnigeria.com
By PRNigeria
