November 16, (THEWILL) — While Nigerians await the outcome of the investigation promised by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, into the tense face-off between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant A. M. Yerima, at a disputed parcel of land in Abuja’s Gaduwa District on Tuesday in Abuja, reactions have continued to play out on social media. A viral video of the incident has since ignited public debate over ministerial authority, protocol, and civility.
The clash, which occurred on Tuesday, involved Wike confronting Yerima and a team of armed naval personnel guarding property reportedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
In the footage, Wike accused the retired naval chief of unlawfully seizing the land and scolded the officer for allegedly obstructing an FCT Department of Development Control operation. Yerima, however, calmly stated he was merely following orders from his superiors.
THEWILL gathered that among the reactions trailing the clash, the overwhelming support from the military constituency for Yerima, has made the government move dispatch to handle the matter and calm frayed nerves.
In reaction to the incident, a coalition of retired military veterans expressed strong support for the naval officer, warning that they might mobilize members to occupy the FCT Ministry if any punitive action was taken against him. The veterans also urged the Federal Government to ensure that serving officers are not subjected to intimidation or harassment while performing official duties.
In a more frontal position, former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday night, described the Minister’s action as a threat to national security and demanded for his sanction of the Minister.
“The events of November 11, 2025, involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, demand an immediate and serious response. His public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces transcends mere misconduct; it represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity,” he said, adding that, “a minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the core of our nation’s command and control structure. It deliberately undermines the chain of command, disrespects the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and grievously wounds the morale of every individual who serves under the Nigerian flag. Such actions erode the very foundation of discipline upon which our national security apparatus stands.”
The man at the centre of the storm, Minister Wike, has defended his action. At a press briefing with journalists in Abuja, Wike said his reaction was to defend the lives of his senior workers at the FCTA who were assaulted at the disputed land said to belong to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd).
“How can I sit as a minister when government officials are being attacked and beaten up, officials at the level of directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what?” he asked.
He accused the retired naval officer of carrying out illegal development on the land and faulted the use of military personnel to obstruct lawful enforcement activities by FCT officials, disclosing his other civil encounters with military top brass over the same matter.
He said, “Many influential Nigerians have had similar land issues. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former head of state and president, will simply call me. He’ll say, ‘Minister, I have a problem on this land, can you help?’ and I’ll solve it. That is a former head of state — a former president — who has the courtesy to call the minister. General T.Y. Danjuma will do the same. They never sent soldiers to attack anybody. They just call.”
He restated his respect for military institutions. “I have respect for the military, and I’ll continue to respect them. I know what the institution stands for. I’m not a fool; I went to school. So anyone trying to suggest I have problems with them is wrong. I have no problem with the military, and I never will. Why would I have issues with the government? But this is a private matter,” he said.
Meanwhile the Minister for State for Defence, Bello Matawallle has however given insight where the government may stand over the matter, few hours after the substantive Minister Badaru disclosed government’s intention to probe the matter.
Matawalle dismissed calls for disciplinary action against the officer, describing the confrontation as “unnecessary and avoidable,” while commending Yerima for his professionalism and restraint.
In an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle said the altercation could have been avoided if proper administrative channels were observed.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. The officer explained that he was simply obeying lawful orders. Wike should have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors rather than engaging directly,” he said.
The minister noted that Yerima’s composure under pressure reflected military discipline, emphasizing that the officer acted within lawful orders.
“He is trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient. The young officer simply carried out his duty and should be commended,” Matawalle said.
According to the Defence Minister, Yerima’s conduct did not breach any military code or ethics.
“He did not commit any offence under military regulations; he merely followed lawful instructions. If observed carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly,” Matawalle said.
The minister also warned public officials against actions that could undermine military authority or embarrass uniformed personnel carrying out lawful duties.
“Disrespecting a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is no basis for any punishment against the officer,” he added.
Matawalle clarified that his comments were not an endorsement of military misconduct but a call for adherence to due process and inter-ministerial respect.
“This is not about supporting disrespect toward civilians. Every officer has superiors, and the Minister should have communicated through the proper chain of command,” he said.
He revealed that Wike had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff over the matter but proceeded to the site despite being advised to wait for the outcome of an inquiry.
“He ought to have exercised patience and awaited the investigation,” Matawalle said.
The Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed site to commence a formal inquiry into the property’s ownership.
“Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area, the matter will be investigated to determine who holds legitimate documents,” he said.
The minister further urged that all land revocations or reallocations within the FCT follow established administrative procedures rather than public confrontations.
“If the land has been revoked, there are official processes to be followed,” he added.
Matawalle also disclosed that, while the Defence Ministry had not received a formal complaint from the FCT Minister, he personally reached out to Wike following the viral video.
“I called him after the incident to advise that he should have spoken with me first before going there, instead of confronting the officers directly,” he said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
