The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has declared support for Lieutenant Yerima, the naval officer who confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a heated encounter over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
Badaru praised Yerima’s composure and professionalism, describing him as “a disciplined officer who acted within his duty.”
“We will always protect our officer; he has done well. We won’t allow anything happen to him,” Badaru said, assuring that any officer performing lawful duties will be “highly protected.”
The clash reportedly occurred when Wike and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) attempted to access land allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).
In a viral video, Wike and the soldier engaged in a fiery exchange after the officer blocked the minister’s convoy, insisting he was acting under lawful orders. The standoff, which drew public attention, ended without physical confrontation but underscored growing tensions over land disputes in the FCT.
