Defence Minister Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has guaranteed that no military personnel carrying out legitimate duties will face punishment following the heated confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a naval officer in Abuja.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 12, at the National Defence College during the kickoff for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, Abubakar made the government’s position clear, according to Linda Ikeji Blog.
“We will always protect our officers who are carrying out lawful duties,” he said. “I can assure you that any officer on lawful duty will be fully protected.
We will not allow anything to happen to them as long as they are doing their job diligently and responsibly.”
The dispute centers on a confrontation between Wike and Naval Lieutenant A.M. Yerima over a piece of land allegedly belonging to retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, former Chief of Naval Staff.
When Wike and his team arrived at the site, the FCT Minister claimed the land was illegally acquired and ordered all work to stop immediately.
However, Lt. Yerima, acting on official orders, blocked their entry, triggering a tense standoff where Wike was captured on video reprimanding the officer.
The incident drew sharp reactions from retired military personnel, who warned they would occupy the FCT Ministry if any disciplinary action was taken against Lt. Yerima.
The veterans insisted the officer was simply following lawful instructions.
