By Amofokhai Williams
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded to public criticism of his heated confrontation with a naval officer in Gaduwa district, Abuja, insisting the encounter was in defence of civil authority and the rule of law.
Wike said the dispute arose after his office launched an investigation into alleged illegal development on a parcel of land, where armed naval personnel were deployed.
According to his account, when he visited the site he discovered that the military was being used to provide cover for a purportedly unauthorised land grab.
“When they came here, I was informed that the military came to chase them away … I thought they were acting illegally.” he told journalists.
He challenged the naval officer to present documentation authorising the posting and the development, suggesting that “simply because he is a military man, he could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I am not one who will succumb to blackmail or intimidation.”
Wike said he had earlier contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who had directed him to await formal investigation. He claimed that rather than waiting, the military presence at the site moved ahead of due process.
His argument centres on the constitutional role he holds as FCT Minister whereby all land administration within the territory falls under his remit or the federal delegate of that function.
He asserted that no one—including a retired high-ranking naval officer—should be allowed to bypass proper regulatory channels.
Supporters of Wike, such as the APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe, have backed his stance, describing the naval officer’s behaviour as “horrible” and part of a broader corruption in land allocations in Abuja.
“What the naval officer did is unconstitutional,” Igbokwe said, urging that the officer be removed from the military and the land allocation be thoroughly investigated.
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Despite Wike’s defence, the incident has ignited a fierce debate. Military and veterans’ organisations argue the encounter undermines the chain of command and respect for uniformed officers. A retired Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), described Wike’s conduct as “a clear and present danger to national security”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, labelled the confrontation “unnecessary and avoidable,” calling on civil authorities to allow the military to follow proper protocols rather than engaging in what became a public spectacle.
