A confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and military personnel in Abuja on Tuesday has heightened anxiety about military loyalty to constituted democratic authorities in Nigeria.
While details are still emerging, the clash occurred when the minister and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) attempted to gain access to a disputed property in the Guzape District.
The site was reportedly under heavy guard by soldiers allegedly acting on the instructions of a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd).
Eyewitnesses said tension escalated when the soldiers refused to allow FCTA officials to enter, prompting a furious exchange between Wike and the armed men.
In a viral video, the minister was seen confronting one of the officers, saying, “Shut up, keep quiet, you are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
The soldiers, however, maintained they were following superior orders, insisting that no one could access the site without clearance.
Wike was heard responding angrily, “You send soldiers to intimidate who? We are all from this country. If not for the CDS who spoke to me now, you would have to kill everybody here. I’m not one of those you can intimidate.”
According to sources in the FCTA, the disputed land had been marked for demolition weeks earlier after officials discovered that the ongoing construction lacked both title documents and building approval.
Because he was told to stop building on a land he has no TITLE DOCUMENT and Building Approval, former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, sent his Armed Military Security Details to attack men of the FCTA Department of Development Control.
— Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 (@OlayinkaLere) November 11, 2025
He also stationed… pic.twitter.com/3s2JhVHns7
The FCTA claims the site encroaches on government property and violates Abuja’s master plan — one of the key areas Wike has vowed to enforce since assuming office.
Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, alleged that the property was being illegally developed and accused the former naval chief of deploying armed guards to obstruct enforcement.
“The military men threatened to shoot anyone who interfered with the illegal development. Today, the minister went to the site after consulting with the Chief of Defence Staff by phone,” he said.
Emerging reports suggest that the confrontation lasted over 40 minutes before senior Defence Headquarters officials intervened to calm the situation.
Sources familiar with the matter said the soldiers were later withdrawn from the site pending an internal review.
The property, said to sit on a prime location in Guzape, is estimated to be worth over ₦2 billion. Some other media outlets reported that the document they claim to have obtained shows that ownership remains under dispute, with both the FCTA and private developers laying claims.
The development has ignited widespread debate on social media, with Nigerians divided over Wike’s approach.
While some praised him for “standing up to impunity,” others criticised his language toward the soldiers, arguing that the matter should have been handled diplomatically.
As of the time of this report, the Nigerian Army has yet to issue an official statement. However, another media report says its military source had hinted that an inquiry may be launched to determine whether the officers acted under proper authority.
The incident could reignite concerns about political stability and the subordination of the armed forces to civil authority, just weeks after the Defence Headquarters vigorously dispelled rumours of an alleged attempt by some members of the military to seize power from President Bola Tinubu’s government.
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