A tense confrontation erupted on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a group of soldiers who allegedly barred him from accessing a disputed plot of land in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
In a video of the incident that has since gone viral, Wike was seen arriving at the site alongside members of his entourage, only to be stopped by uniformed military personnel stationed at the property.
The minister, visibly angered, demanded an explanation from the officers, accusing them of acting unlawfully and insisting that no one — not even members of the armed forces — was above the law.
“You cannot be higher than the government,” Wike said during the confrontation.
“You cannot use a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that can be intimidated.”
An aide accompanying the minister also condemned the soldiers’ behaviour, describing it as “unprofessional” and unbecoming of military officers.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” the aide said.
‘I Will Not Succumb to Blackmail’
Wike accused the military personnel of acting with impunity, alleging that the land in question had no record of legal ownership or allocation within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
“You have no document,” he told the soldiers, insisting that due process was not followed in the acquisition or development of the site.
“We cannot continue to act in impunity. This country cannot continue this way.”
The FCT minister claimed the officers were acting on the orders of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.), whom he accused of using his position to intimidate government officials and illegally seize public land.
“It’s really unfortunate,” Wike said. “I don’t understand how someone who once held that position cannot approach my office to explain what is happening. Instead, because he is a military man, he believes he can intimidate Nigerians. I will not succumb to blackmail.”
Despite the minister’s warning, the soldiers reportedly stood their ground, maintaining that they were acting under official directives from the retired naval chief and would not vacate the property.
The incident has since stirred widespread public reaction, with many Nigerians calling for a thorough investigation into the ownership and legality of the disputed land, while others warned against escalating tensions between civil authorities and the military.
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