Wike vs Naval Officer: FCTA Removes Bulldozer from Disputed Land

The Disputed Land Incident in Abuja

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Development Control Department have withdrawn a bulldozer that was previously deployed to a disputed plot of land in Wumba District, Abuja. This property is said to belong to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd). The dispute has drawn public attention due to conflicting claims over ownership and development rights.

An altercation occurred on Tuesday between the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and a Navy Lieutenant, A.M. Yerima, concerning the development of a plot of land in Abuja. A video of the confrontation, which has gone viral on social media, captured a heated exchange between the minister and the uniformed officer at a construction site.

In the footage, Wike was seen demanding to see the approval documents for the project, insisting that no development should proceed without official authorisation. Lt. Yerima, however, maintained that all necessary papers were in order and explained that the military’s presence at the site was to ensure compliance with due process.

The incident has sparked widespread reactions online, with many social media users praising Lt. Yerima for his calm and professional conduct during the encounter. On Thursday, a viral video circulating online showed a bulldozer being removed from the site following public outcry over the dispute. An official of the department, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development, saying the machine was taken off the site pending further directives.

“The bulldozer has been removed while the matter is being addressed through engagement with relevant stakeholders,” the source said.

Respect for Uniformed Personnel

A former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd), has said that any act of disrespect towards uniformed personnel amounts to an affront on the Nigerian state. Speaking at the 21st All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) 2025 in Abuja on Thursday, Irabor said the altercation had been misinterpreted by many commentators.

He said, “The uniform is not about who is wearing it; it represents the authority of the state. It symbolises the power, dignity, and sovereignty of the nation.”

Irabor said the military operates under strict codes of conduct, warning that no one has the right to physically assault or humiliate a soldier. “Even as a general, I cannot slap my soldier. If I do, I will face disciplinary action. There are laid-down mechanisms for addressing misconduct, and that is what distinguishes a state governed by law from a jungle,” he said.

He added that disrespecting uniformed personnel, whether junior or senior, was tantamount to insulting the state itself. “Whether it’s a young officer or a senior one, when you make disparaging remarks or act against them, you are in fact insulting the state itself,” he said.

Drawing from legal principles, Irabor reminded the audience that offences must be assessed through both actus reus (the act itself) and mens rea (the intent behind it). He acknowledged that the FCT minister has authority over land matters but insisted that the controversy was rooted in the respect owed to state authority embodied in the uniform.

The former defence chief expressed concern over what he described as the erosion of civic education and public understanding of institutions. “We’ve lost our educational traction. Things that were once taught in primary and secondary schools, like respect for institutions and understanding authority, are now forgotten,” he said.

He urged the media to play a constructive role in shaping national discourse. “The media are the last men standing in the defence of the state. You may not have the sword, but your words carry immense power. Use them responsibly to strengthen, not weaken, the nation,” he advised.

Calling for restraint in dealing with uniformed personnel, Irabor emphasized that the rule of law provides channels for redress. “If the person in uniform misuses his authority, he will be dealt with, but the uniform itself must be respected. That’s what sustains order in a civilised society,” he said.

Irabor warned that continued disregard for the symbols of state authority could push Nigeria into lawlessness. “We must not turn our country into a jungle where everyone takes the law into their own hands. Respect the uniform. Respect what it stands for,” he said firmly.

Wike’s Response and Support for the Military

Meanwhile, Wike, on Thursday, dismissed insinuations of using a disputed land issue in Abuja to fight the Nigerian military, saying he has always supported the armed forces and maintained utmost respect for them. Speaking with journalists on the clash involving his officials and some military personnel, Wike urged Nigerians to learn to obey the laws, adding that the government will not tolerate any attempt to violate land use regulations or obstruct government officials performing their lawful duties.

The minister said his actions have been guided strictly by law and not by sentiment or emotion. “You are told to obey legal orders, not orders that are illegal. So, if, because you are a security aide, you think your superior ordered you to shoot at someone, you think you will not be charged for murder, because your superior gave you the order?” he asked.

“People have problems. We have tried to resolve them, but don’t use intimidation, don’t try to weaken the government. You cannot weaken the government. Because when we allow this now, others will follow suit. And then they will say, ‘When it happened to this and that, what did you do?’”

“I have respect for the military. I will continue to respect them. So, anybody trying to bring conflict there, to say, ‘Oh, he is having a problem with the military,’ it is not correct. I don’t have a problem with the military and I will not have a problem,” he maintained.

Wike, however, said the issue had been blown out of proportion by those bent on portraying him as being at loggerheads with the military. He maintained that he only intervened after top officials of the FCTA were assaulted while carrying out their official duties, saying that as a minister, he won’t sit in his office while those working with him are being attacked.

He recalled that when the police had a similar issue, he personally visited the site where buildings were being constructed under the power line, and the Inspector-General of Police ensured the stoppage of the construction. He said the FCT Administration’s duty is to protect the integrity of Abuja’s Master Plan and ensure that all developments conform with approved land use provisions.

According to him, those who obtained land for agricultural purposes but later converted it to residential estates or commercial ventures without approval would be made to face the law. “Government cannot function in a lawless society. If we allow one person to violate the rules because of who he is, others will follow. That is how impunity begins. We must learn to obey the law irrespective of who is involved,” he said.

Matawalle Supports the Naval Officer

Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, has defended the military officer who clashed with Wike over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja. He said the officer acted within the law and would not face any punishment.

But Matawalle, reacting in an interview with DCL Hausa, said the officer did nothing wrong and that his conduct reflected discipline and respect for lawful procedures. “What happened with the minister is not good. The FCT minister was not supposed to approach the young officer like that. He (Wike) is our colleague, even if there is an issue, he should have contacted us first,” Matawalle said.

The minister said the officer’s reaction was professional and that he only followed standard protocol. “What the soldier did was correct because he was trained to follow due process. He acted respectfully and deserves appreciation for that. In military law, there is no punishment for that because he did the right thing by following due process and the law,” he added.

Matawalle emphasized that the minister’s tone during the exchange was unnecessary, adding that government officials should respect the chain of command when dealing with military personnel. “When the minister met him, he should not have exchanged words with him, even just because of his uniform. Whoever wrongs a military officer, it’s as if they wronged the president, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he noted.

The minister further revealed that before Wike visited the site, the Chief of Defence Staff had advised him to wait for an investigation into the matter. “He made an inquiry before going there. The Chief of Defence Staff told him to wait for the investigation, but he refused and approached the soldiers directly. As a leader, he should have waited. Even the Navy said they will conduct their own investigation,” he explained.

Matawalle said he personally reached out to Wike after the incident and reminded him that the matter could have been handled differently. “I called him after I saw the video. I told him he should have called me first, and he said he was told. I assured him I would investigate the issue,” he said.

The minister added that no formal complaint had been received from the FCT minister regarding the incident. “Nothing will happen to that military man. It’s not about defending the military; as I said, we are following law and order. The minister knows that the officer has superiors,” he stated.

Matawalle maintained that the Defence Ministry would continue to protect officers performing lawful duties and commended the military personnel for their composure during the encounter.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, also reaffirmed that the federal government and military authorities would safeguard all soldiers engaged in lawful assignments.