The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has publicly declared his support for Lieutenant Yerima, the naval officer who engaged in a heated confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
Speaking on the incident, Badaru praised the officer’s composure and professionalism, stressing that Yerima was only carrying out his lawful duties when the altercation occurred.
“We will always protect our officer; he has done well. We won’t allow anything to happen to him,” the Defence Minister said. “We are looking into this issue, and we assure that any officer on lawful duty will be protected. So far he is doing his job, and he is doing it greatly well.”
According to reports, the confrontation occurred on Tuesday when officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by Minister Wike, attempted to take control of a parcel of land allegedly belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd). Soldiers stationed at the site reportedly prevented the minister’s team from accessing the property, leading to a tense standoff.
A video of the incident, which has since gone viral, shows a visibly angry Wike exchanging words with Lieutenant Yerima, who stood his ground and insisted he was acting under lawful orders.
Wike, in the footage, accused the officer of obstructing government officials from performing their duties, saying, “Because you’re an officer, nobody does that. Nobody acquires land illegally.”
The officer responded calmly, “Sir, we did not carry any land… everything was acquired legally.”
The exchange quickly escalated when Wike ordered the officer to “shut up,” to which Yerima firmly replied, “Sir, I will not shut up. I’m an officer, I have integrity.”
The confrontation reached a boiling point when the FCT Minister called the soldier “a big fool,” but the officer refused to back down, saying, “I’m not a fool, sir. I am acting on an order.”
The incident has sparked widespread debate across the country, with opinions divided between those who commend Lieutenant Yerima for his courage and professionalism, and others who argue that Wike, as a minister of the federation, should not have been defied by a junior officer.
The Defence Minister’s statement, however, makes it clear that the military high command stands firmly behind its personnel.
“We will not allow anything to happen to any officer who is lawfully carrying out his duties,” Badaru reiterated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting the integrity and discipline of the Armed Forces.
The confrontation adds to growing tensions surrounding land disputes and demolition exercises in the Federal Capital Territory since Wike assumed office as FCT Minister, with several clashes reported between FCTA officials and security agencies over enforcement activities.