The Nigerian Navy has remained silent following a heated confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and some naval personnel over an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
Naijaonpoint reports that the confrontation between Wike and the officer identified as AM Yarima occurred when the FCT Minister visited the disputed site, where he accused the military of illegally taking over a parcel of land reportedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.).
In a viral video online, the visibly furious minister confronted a naval officer at the scene, questioning why the military would claim ownership of the land without legal approval.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike fumed.
‘I’m an Officer with Integrity,’ Officer replied.
The officer, dressed in full military camouflage, countered the minister’s accusations, insisting that the property was legally acquired.
“I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” the officer said.
Wike, visibly angered by the interjection, ordered him to keep quiet. “You will not shut me up,” the officer replied, prompting the minister to retort sharply: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
The officer replied, “I am not a fool.”
The confrontation grew more intense as Wike warned the officer against further interference, saying, “You will see if you will not leave here. Go and develop there and let me see.”
Reacting later in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Press (Office of the Minister), Rabi Umar, Wike described the incident as “an act of lawlessness” by military personnel.
“I did instruct them (FCTA officials) to make sure that nothing takes place, inasmuch as they do not have any legal paper in terms of building approval or acquisition of the land,” he said.
Umar added that the FCTA officials had earlier been chased away by armed military personnel guarding the site.
“When they came here, I was informed that the military chased them away. So today, I was called that the military had taken over the place, and I had to come to see things for myself,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Minister Vows to Resist Military Intimidation
Wike also questioned the involvement of military personnel in what he described as a civil matter and vowed that the Federal Capital Territory Administration would not tolerate such acts.
“It’s really unfortunate, and you heard what the officer said, he was sent by the former Chief of Naval Staff. I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position, seeing he has a problem, cannot approach my office to explain what is going on,” Wike said.
He continued, “Or, simply because he’s a military man, he felt he could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I’m not one of those who will succumb to blackmail.”
However, when contacted on the Tuesday, November 11 incident, The PUNCH claimed that the Navy’s spokesman, A. Adams-Aliyu, declined to comment on the matter, saying only, “No reply for now.”
Naijaonpoint reports that the confrontation adds to a growing list of disputes in the FCT over land ownership and illegal development.
It comes weeks after the Federal Capital Territory Administration demolished several buildings in Apo District belonging to the Nigeria Police Force for being erected under high-tension power lines.
As of press time, the Nigerian Navy has not issued an official statement on the Abuja land saga.
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