By Emeka Blast 
Wike and Soldiers in Heated Exchange Over Alleged Land Grabbing
In a tense confrontation that has ignited national debate over land governance and military overreach, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike clashed with armed soldiers on Tuesday, accusing them of illegally seizing a prime plot in Gaduwa District on behalf of a former Chief of Naval Staff. The dramatic face-off, captured on video and rapidly circulating on social media, saw Wike berate a military officer as a “fool” and threaten enforcement actions, underscoring deepening rifts in Abuja’s high-stakes real estate battles.
The incident unfolded around midday at Plot 1946, Gaduwa, a sprawling 5-hectare site earmarked for high-end residential development. Wike, leading a team from the FCT Administration’s Department of Development Control, arrived to enforce a stop-work order after discovering the property lacked valid title documents or approved building plans. Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers, allegedly acting on instructions from retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo—Nigeria’s former Chief of Naval Staff (2021-2023)—barricaded the entrance, rifles at the ready, preventing access.
‘You Are a Fool’: Verbal Volley Escalates
Video footage shows Wike, flanked by aides and security, demanding entry while a naval lieutenant, identified as A.M. Yerima, stood firm in camouflage fatigues. “The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike thundered, gesturing at the site. “I don’t understand how someone who attained that position cannot approach my office… But simply because he’s a military man, he thinks he can use that to intimidate Nigerians.”
Yerima interjected calmly: “I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally.” Wike, visibly incensed, cut him off: “Shut up, keep quiet, you are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.” The minister later revealed he had personally contacted Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Olufemi Oluyede and Chief of Naval Staff, who assured intervention, averting what he called a potential “mass killing.”
Wike addressed reporters post-clash: “We are not here for confrontation… but I will not allow illegality to thrive. No one, not even a former Chief of Naval Staff, is above the law.” He emphasized the FCT’s mandate to curb illegal developments, vowing uniform enforcement across Abuja.
Broader Land Wars: A Pattern of Power Plays
This skirmish is the latest flashpoint in Wike’s aggressive 18-month crusade against land grabbing, which has razed unauthorized structures and sparked lawsuits from elites. Critics, including former Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka, slammed Wike’s personal involvement as a “fundamental misstep,” arguing it undermines the rule of law and disrespects uniformed officers representing state sovereignty.
Public reactions are polarized. Social media erupted with memes dubbing it the “Wike vs. Warrior” showdown, while lawyer Femi Falana urged sanctions for both parties: “The minister’s abuses erode institutional respect; the soldiers’ obstruction invites contempt of court.” The Nigerian Defence Headquarters responded cryptically on X: “Unshaken, Unbent, Unbroken,” fueling speculation of internal military tensions.
Neither the Navy nor Gambo has commented publicly, but sources close to the admiral claim the plot was “legitimately acquired” via a 2022 allocation. FCT records, however, show no Right of Occupancy (C-of-O) issued, classifying it as government land vulnerable to grabbing.
| Key Players | Stance | Potential Fallout |
|---|---|---|
| Nyesom Wike | Enforce law; no sacred cows | Heightened demolitions; political backlash |
| Lt. A.M. Yerima | Defend legal acquisition | Court-martial risk; integrity probe |
| Vice Adm. Gambo (rtd.) | Silent; claims validity | Asset freeze; EFCC scrutiny |
| Defence HQ | Cryptic resolve | Inter-agency rift with FCTA |
Rule of Law on Trial: Implications for Abuja
Analysts warn the clash exposes systemic flaws in Nigeria’s land sector, where military influence often trumps civilian oversight—echoing past scandals like the “Army Barracks Land Saga.” With Abuja’s real estate valued at over $100 billion, such disputes could deter investors and escalate to Supreme Court battles.
President Bola Tinubu, a Wike ally, has yet to weigh in, but insiders predict a mediated resolution via the National Security Adviser. As Wike’s “war on illegality” intensifies, questions linger: Will the military yield, or has Abuja’s land frontier become a battlefield?
