“We’ll Always Protect Our Officer,” Defence Minister Declares Support For Naval Officer In Face-Off With Wike Over Land

Abuja, Nigeria– Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has thrown his weight behind Lieutenant Yerima, the naval officer who reportedly confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over a disputed parcel of land allegedly belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Badaru commended the officer’s conduct, describing him as a disciplined and loyal serviceman who acted within his duty.

“We will always protect our officer. He has done well. We won’t allow anything happen to him,” the minister said, in what appeared to be a strong message of support for the Navy amid the ongoing controversy.

“So we are looking into this issue, and we assure that any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly.

“So we will not allow anything to happen to him so far he is doing his job, and he is doing his job greatly well,” he said.

The confrontation, which reportedly occurred at the site of the disputed land in Abuja, has generated public debate about the limits of ministerial authority and the military’s role in safeguarding assets belonging to senior officers, serving or retired.

Afrika Eyes had reported that a tense confrontation broke out in Abuja on Tuesday when soldiers stopped the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from gaining access to a disputed estate land.

In a video obtained by Afrika Eyes, soldiers on guard duty at the site blocked the minister’s convoy, sparking a heated verbal exchange between Wike and one of the officers.

Visibly enraged, Wike accused the soldier of preventing government officials from carrying out their lawful duties, while the soldier insisted he was acting on lawful orders.

“Because you’re an officer, nobody does that (nobody acquires land illegally),” Wike shouted during the exchange.

The soldier quickly responded, “Sir, we did not carry any land.”

Wike retorted, “The man took this, and we will not allow that just because he is the Chief of Army Staff.”

The confrontation intensified when the soldier maintained that all actions taken on the property were legitimate.

“Sir, everything was acquired legally. Sir, you get the point,” the soldier said.

An irritated Wike interrupted, saying, “Will you stop that?”

The soldier, however, refused to be silenced. “Sir, I’m an officer, I have integrity,” he replied.

“Shut up!” Wike barked.

“Sir, I will not shut up. Sir, I won’t shut up. Sir, you can’t shut me up,” the soldier responded firmly, drawing gasps from onlookers.

The standoff escalated further when Wike called the soldier “a big fool,” but the officer stood his ground, insisting he was only following orders.

Wike: “You’re a big fool.”

Soldier: “I’m not a fool, sir. I am acting on an order.”

The soldier’s defiance shocked onlookers as both sides refused to back down, creating a tense standoff that drew attention from nearby residents and FCTA officials.

The altercation is the latest in a series of confrontations linked to land ownership disputes and demolition exercises in the Federal Capital Territory under Wike’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Wike vows not to ‘succumb to blackmail’ after face-off with soldiers