There was drama at Gaduwa village in Abuja on Tuesday when soldiers prevented the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and officials of the FCT Administration from gaining access to a parcel of land owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.).
The property, located on Plot 1946, became the subject of a confrontation after Wike questioned the legality of its development by the ex-naval chief, insisting the military had neither approval nor valid documentation from the FCTA.
“Show me the documents. You have no documents. We cannot continue with this impunity. Where is the approval given to you?” Wike demanded.
“How can that man at his level, if he has a problem, he cannot reach me to say, ‘I’m sorry, sir, see what I have’? You send soldiers, to intimidate who? We are all from this country. You cannot be higher than the government!
Responding, the senior army officer on site, A. M. Yerima, denied any attempt to intimidate government officials, saying development on the land was backed by approvals obtained through the proper authorities.
“On the contrary, sir, we are not trying to intimidate anybody. The men mobilised on site, and then staff or workers of the FCDA came and were disturbing them. That was when the Admiral gave the order.
Because the papers are complete and he said he submitted them,” Yerima stated.
The exchange, however, became heated when the minister insisted that the military would “never develop this land,” to which Yerima responded that he was an officer with integrity and was only following orders.
Wike, visibly angered by the officer’s response, ordered him to be quiet, to which the officer replied, “I will not shut up.”
“You are a very big fool,” Wike fired back, raising a finger in the soldier’s face. “As of the time I graduated, you were still in primary school. You must kill everybody here!”
“I won’t kill anybody!” the soldier fired back.
“You must kill everybody here,” Wike repeated before backing off, saying, “Get out!”
Speaking to journalists afterward, Wike said he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, adding that the FCTA would not allow “illegal development and land grabbing” to stand.
“I’ve spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and I’ve spoken to the Chief of Naval Staff and they have assured me that they have to resolve the matter. We’re not coming here to have a shootout with anybody to cause chaos and all.
“But what I can say, I would not allow it to happen. The way we have done and carried out our jobs in other areas, is the same way it will be done here. He will not carry out this illegal deployment and land grabbing simply because he was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I would not allow that,” Wike declared.
Veterans threaten showdown
Reacting to the Tuesday incident, the Coalition of Military Veterans condemned the FCT minister’s conduct.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, the coalition criticised Wike for verbally insulting the officer during the encounter.
The group said a public office holder should not use abusive language against security personnel carrying out official duties.
“How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera? If he was responsible, he should have engaged the Chief of Naval Staff privately rather than attempting to disgrace a retired senior officer,” the coalition said.
It noted that a uniformed officer represents the authority of the Nigerian state, and that disrespecting such an officer undermines public institutions.
The veterans also faulted calls for disciplinary action against the officer, saying any such move would be resisted.
“If for any reason the officer is punished, military veterans will occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister,” he warned.
He noted that military officers swear loyalty to the country and not to individual public officials and insisted that Wike should apologise to the officer.
“Wike’s action demeans the dignity of the office of a minister. He should apologise for using abusive language. It is not acceptable behaviour.”
But the Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, alleged that the military men “threatened to shoot” his principal during the encounter.
In his narration of events posted on his official X handle, #OlayinkaLere, the media aide said the land owner, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, had no title documents and no building approval,
He alleged that the former naval chief had sent armed officers to “attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control,” adding that military men stationed on the site threatened to shoot anyone who interfered with the development of the land.
“Because he was told to stop building on a land he has no title document and building approval, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, sent his armed military security details to attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control.
“He also stationed armed military men to protect the illegal development, with the military men threatening to shoot anyone who interfere with them.
“Today, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, visited the site, after talking to the Chief of Defence Staff on Phone,” the post read.
The military had, however, yet to react to the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Tuesday’s confrontation comes weeks after the FCTA demolished 11 duplexes belonging to the Nigeria Police Force in Apo District for being built under high-tension power lines.
Wike also reiterated that the FCTA’s Department of Development Control had denied approval for the contested land, vowing to escalate the matter to the appropriate authorities.
Land tussles and illegal allocation have remained major concerns in the capital city.
Since assuming office in August 2023, Wike has intensified enforcement against unauthorised land acquisition, illegal development, and encroachment on designated government areas, including multiple demolitions aimed at restoring the Abuja master plan.
In a separate development, the minister on Sunday granted property owners in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse districts a final 14-day window to pay a N5m penalty for violating approved land-use provisions.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, affected allottees must comply between November 11 and November 25, 2025, or face enforcement action.
Punch
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