LAGOS, Nigeria — A police inspector is battling severe facial injuries after he was allegedly shot at close range by a fellow officer during a duty handover at the Iju Police Division in Lagos, in an incident that has again drawn attention to discipline and firearm handling within the Nigeria Police Force.
According to an internal police signal cited by SaharaReporters, the shooting occurred at about 9am on Sunday, 12 July 2026, shortly after Inspector Aminu Nuhu completed night guard duty and was handing over to Police Constable Lateef Afeez, who had resumed for the morning shift.
The report said a disagreement between the two officers escalated into violence after the inspector allegedly threw stones at the constable. It then said the constable retaliated by firing a riot gun issued for duty directly at the inspector’s face from close range. The inspector reportedly sustained grievous injuries to his mouth and right cheek.
The signal described the matter as a “shooting incident and grievous harm” and said the injured officer was first rushed to General Hospital, Ifako, before being referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, because of the severity of his injuries.
Police authorities reportedly arrested and disarmed the constable soon after the incident. The signal said he was in “proper detention” and that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, for discreet investigation after preliminary inquiries.
While the facts remain at the level of an internal signal and an allegation awaiting full investigation, the case is likely to intensify scrutiny of how police officers are armed, supervised and de-escalated during routine duties, especially in a country where public confidence in law-enforcement conduct is already fragile.
Further developments are expected as investigators examine the sequence of events, the conduct of both officers and the circumstances under which the riot gun was deployed. The police have said updates will be communicated as the inquiry progresses.
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