Navy Silent After Wike Clashes With Officers Over Abuja Land Dispute

The Nigerian Navy has yet to issue a statement after a heated confrontation between some of its personnel and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over an alleged case of land grabbing in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.

When contacted on Tuesday, Navy spokesman A. Adams-Aliyu declined to comment, saying only, “No reply for now.”

The altercation occurred when Wike visited the disputed site and accused the military of illegally taking over the land said to be linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. In a video of the encounter, Wike could be seen angrily questioning the soldiers’ presence, saying, “Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?”

One of the officers, dressed in camouflage, interrupted, insisting the land was acquired legally. “I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” he said. Wike ordered him to be quiet, but the officer refused, replying, “I will not shut up,” prompting a sharper response from the minister: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”

The officer maintained that he was acting under official instructions. Wike fired back, “You will see if you will not leave here. Go and develop there and let me see,” as tensions escalated.

In a statement from the Office of the Minister, signed by Assistant Director of Press Rabi Umar, Wike described the incident as “an act of lawlessness” by military personnel.

He said the FCTA had earlier stopped development on the site due to lack of legal approval and that he was forced to visit after receiving reports that the military had driven away FCTA officials.

“It’s really unfortunate,” Wike said. “You heard what the officer said — he was sent by the former Chief of Naval Staff. I don’t understand how someone who once held that position cannot simply come to my office to clarify the issue, but instead uses the military to intimidate people. I won’t succumb to such blackmail.”

The minister vowed that the FCTA would not allow any illegal development in Abuja, regardless of the parties involved. As of press time, the Nigerian Navy had not released any official response to the confrontation.