By Ademola Adekusibe
December 17, 2025
A Nigerian soldier, Corporal Irabo, was shot dead on Tuesday at a checkpoint in Edo State by armed men posing as military personnel, SaharaReporters has learned.
According to a security source, Corporal Irabo was traveling back to his unit in Abuja after the expiration of his leave pass when the vehicle he was in was stopped at a checkpoint. The checkpoint was reportedly manned by gunmen wearing military uniforms, who ordered all passengers to identify themselves.
Believing the men to be genuine soldiers, Corporal Irabo identified himself as a serving member of the Nigerian Army. Immediately after doing so, he was shot at close range and killed on the spot. The attackers fled the scene, leaving the passengers traumatized.
“The soldier was on his way back to Abuja after his pass had expired,” the source said. “At a checkpoint in Edo State, some men dressed in military uniforms stopped their vehicle and asked the passengers to identify themselves. Thinking they were his colleagues, he identified himself as a soldier and was shot instantly.”
The killing underscores growing concerns over the proliferation of fake military checkpoints and the increasing use of military uniforms by criminal elements, particularly along major highways in Nigeria. Criminals have reportedly exploited these disguises to rob, abduct, or kill travelers, raising alarms among security agencies and the public.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Edo State Police Command had issued an official statement regarding the incident. Security sources say investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators and determine whether they are part of a larger criminal network operating across the region.
Residents and commuters have expressed fear over the rise of such impersonations, calling on authorities to strengthen security on highways and enforce stricter monitoring of checkpoints to prevent further loss of lives.
