Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has commended Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer involved in a heated confrontation with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja, saying the Federal Government will ensure his protection.
Speaking on Wednesday at a ministerial press briefing ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Celebration held at the National Defence College, Abuja, Badaru lauded the officer’s composure and professionalism during the incident, describing his actions as consistent with military discipline and duty.
Okay News reports that the disputed land is said to be linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Rtd.), and became the centre of a public altercation between Wike and the naval officer earlier in the week.
The viral footage of the confrontation, which spread widely across social media, showed Wike confronting Yerima, accusing him of “land grabbing,” while the officer maintained that the property was lawfully acquired.
Defence Minister Badaru, addressing journalists, made it clear that the government would stand firmly behind every member of the Armed Forces carrying out legitimate assignments.
“At the Ministry, and indeed within the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty,” Badaru said. “We will always protect our officer. He has done well. We won’t allow anything happen to him.”
He added that the Defence Ministry was already reviewing the circumstances surrounding the confrontation to ensure fairness and accountability. “We are looking into this issue, and I assure you that any officer performing his duty legitimately will be fully protected,” he stated.
The Defence Minister’s comments mark the first official government reaction to the now-viral exchange, which has drawn widespread attention and debate over civil-military relations and the limits of ministerial authority in Nigeria’s capital.
Since assuming office, Minister Wike has led an aggressive campaign to restore the Abuja Master Plan, demolishing illegal structures and investigating questionable land allocations. However, critics say his confrontational style has sparked tension between the FCT Administration and other federal agencies, including the military.
As of press time, neither Wike nor the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued an official response to Badaru’s remarks.
