Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has confirmed that the ministry is investigating the confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant Commander A.M. Yerima, over a disputed land in Abuja.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to commence activities for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Badaru said the military would not abandon any personnel acting within the bounds of lawful duty. At the Ministry and in the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers when they are performing lawful duties. We are looking into this issue, and we assure everyone that any officer doing his job legitimately will be protected”, he said.
The altercation occurred on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, when Wike visited a disputed plot of land reportedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.), and accused military personnel of illegally taking over the property.
A viral video showed the visibly angry minister confronting armed officers stationed at the site in Gaduwa District.
Beyond the incident, Badaru unveiled major new initiatives to strengthen national security and improve the welfare of military veterans.
He announced the launch of the Reclaiming the Ungoverned Space for Economic Benefits Programme (RUSEB-P), an initiative that will deploy retired but able-bodied veterans to secure and rehabilitate areas previously occupied by terrorists.
“By engaging veterans to reinforce local security and undertake economic activities such as farming and mining, RUSEB-P will prevent the resurgence of terrorism, stimulate local economies, and strengthen national cohesion,” he said.
The minister also introduced the “Thank A Soldier” QR Code, enabling Nigerians at home and abroad to send personalised appreciation messages to troops on the frontlines.
Badaru revealed that under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, military operations nationwide had recorded major gains: over 13,000 terrorists and criminals neutralised, 17,000 suspects arrested, nearly 10,000 hostages rescued, and 1,900 illegal refining sites destroyed.
He added that more than 100,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and their families had surrendered.
On veterans’ welfare, he disclosed that the ministry had established a Veterans’ Databank and Call Centre and had enrolled 2,141 Civil War veterans previously excluded from pension benefits. Plans are also underway to amend the Nigerian Legion Act and rename it the Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN).
According to him, the Defence Health Maintenance Limited now provides healthcare coverage for over 400,000 enrollees, including 205,000 veterans and their families nationwide.
Badaru urged Nigerians to continually honour serving troops and fallen heroes, saying, “We must continue to honour gallant men and women who embody valour, discipline, and unity, the pillars of our democracy and sovereignty.”
Meanwhile, the Wike–Yerima confrontation has continued to generate legal and public debate.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and constitutional lawyer, Professor Sebastine Hon, condemned Yerima’s conduct, describing it as a “clear breach of the law.”
In a detailed Facebook post on Wednesday, Hon said the officer’s action in obstructing the FCT minister’s access to the land was unjustifiable, even under the pretext of obeying orders from superiors.
“The duty of a junior officer to obey superior orders, though respected in military circles, has limits recognised by the Supreme Court,” he said, citing Onunze v. State (2023) and Nigeria Air Force v. James (2002), which, according to him, established that no officer is bound to execute an illegal or manifestly unjust command.
Hon added that no military regulation authorises a serving officer to guard the private property of a superior, noting that if genuine security concerns existed, “the retired officer ought to have involved the civil police.”
He emphasised that under Sections 297(2) and 302 of the 1999 Constitution, the FCT minister exercises the President’s powers over land administration in Abuja, and therefore represents the Commander-in-Chief on such matters.
“Even if the superior officer were still in service, he could not lawfully obstruct the minister, who stands in loco of the President of Nigeria. The officer’s actions were an affront to civil authority”, Hon said.
While acknowledging Wike’s fiery temperament, the legal scholar maintained that the minister acted within his constitutional powers.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act makes military personnel criminally liable for civil offences. The officer could therefore face a Court Martial for obstructing a public officer in the performance of his duties,” he added.
Hon warned against celebrating the incident, cautioning that leniency could embolden uniformed personnel to disrespect civil authority in the future.
“If this kind of conduct goes unpunished or is glamorised, it could open the floodgates for military impunity against civilians, with some boasting. ‘We did it to Wike and nothing happened,’” he concluded.
The confrontation at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, continues to stir national attention as investigations unfold within both the Defence and FCT ministries.
