Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Defends Naval Officer in Dispute with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has expressed strong support for Lieutenant Yerima, the naval officer who recently clashed with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over access to a disputed parcel of land allegedly belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).
In a firm statement on Tuesday, the Defence Minister declared that the officer had acted responsibly in the line of duty and would not be left unprotected.
“We will always protect our officer. He has done well. We won’t allow anything happen to him,” Badaru stated, underscoring the Ministry’s position that personnel performing their lawful duties must be shielded from intimidation or undue pressure.
The confrontation reportedly occurred when officials from the FCT Administration attempted to gain access to the said property, which has been under contention for several weeks. Lieutenant Yerima, who was assigned to secure the area, allegedly resisted the entry of the FCT team, leading to a heated exchange between him and Minister Wike’s aides.
Sources close to the Defence Headquarters explained that the land in question is under investigation regarding ownership and usage rights, with both the Navy and the FCT Administration laying claims to jurisdiction.
Minister Badaru’s remarks are seen as a signal that the Defence Ministry will not tolerate what it perceives as encroachment or harassment of its personnel.
He emphasized that while the government values inter-agency cooperation, every officer of the Armed Forces has a duty to protect national assets and maintain discipline within the chain of command.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces operate under clear rules of engagement and hierarchy. Any officer acting within those rules deserves full institutional protection,” the Minister reiterated.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions across political and social circles. Some commentators have praised the naval officer for his courage and professionalism, while others have cautioned that such confrontations between federal officials could send the wrong signal about unity within the government.
Security analysts have also called for clearer protocols on how civil authorities and military personnel should handle issues relating to land ownership, especially within the sensitive FCT corridor where several military formations are located.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. However, sources indicate that efforts are underway to resolve the matter amicably through dialogue between both ministries to prevent further escalation.