Two Nigerian soldiers came under fire from police officers Friday, resulting in the death of one of the servicemen, military sources told Peoples Gazette.

Dantani Bako, a lance corporal and private Samuel Gambo — both involved in counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast — were shot in their legs by the irate officers during an argument at the Nakuse-Kuje checkpoint Friday morning, sources said.

“They were stopped by the police at Nakuse checkpoint… One of the police officers broke their motorcycle headlight and it led to a misunderstanding between the men,” a source told the Gazette. “One among the police officers shot both soldiers in their legs.”

The soldiers were said to have been rushed to a medical facility in the neighbouring Kwali community for treatment.

“Lance corporal Bako later died in the hospital,” a source said. “Private Gambo was referred to a specialist hospital in Gwagwalada for further treatment,” the source added.

The Gazette learnt that the Nakuse police station has since been incinerated by an angry mob in protest of the shooting.

The Gazette could not immediately identify the police officers involved in the incident. A source, however, said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the killer cop.

Spokespersons for the army and police did not immediately return requests for comments Saturday morning, but the Gazette learnt authorities have stepped in to prevent reprisal by the army which could, in turn, escalate a long-standing rivalry between military personnel and police officers in Nigeria.