Intense Confrontation in Abuja: Minister Wike Challenges Naval Personnel Regarding Contested Property
Photo by Solomon Odeniyi retrieved from punch newspaper
Drama unfolded in Abuja on Tuesday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, clashed with naval officers during an inspection of a disputed land site in the city.
Video footage released by Channels Television captured the intense confrontation, showing Wike demanding to see official documents justifying the military presence. He insisted that no one, regardless of rank, is above the law.
“Show me the document you have. You have no document,” Wike was heard saying.
The lead naval officer replied that they were acting on orders and possessed the necessary paperwork. Wike sharply retorted, “I am the minister. You cannot tell me that. Soldiers cannot be used to intimidate government officials performing their duties. This country cannot continue this way.”
The minister accused the officers of obstructing lawful government activity and using their uniforms to protect illegal structures. At one point, he suggested their actions could have endangered lives, saying, “If not for the Chief of Defence Staff who just spoke to me, you could have killed everybody here.”
Tensions escalated further when a member of Wike’s team challenged the naval officer over the forwarding of land documents. Officers became visibly agitated, prompting plainclothes security personnel and police to shield the minister and his team.
Wike condemned what he described as “unprofessional conduct”, while the naval officer maintained that the land was legally acquired. The verbal exchange included sharp words, with Wike telling the officer, “Shut up your mouth! Who does that? Will you get out?”, while the officer repeatedly insisted he was following instructions as a commissioned officer.
The incident occurred amid the FCT Administration’s ongoing crackdown on illegal land allocations, encroachments, and unapproved structures across Abuja, highlighting the heightened tensions between government officials and security personnel enforcing land policies.
