The young Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. A.M. Yarima, has reportedly escaped an assassination attempt on Sunday evening, that’s according to Vanguard Newspaper.

This is coming days after he had a tense confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Vanguard says it learned from military sources that Yarima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black, riding in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates. The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station off the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way.

“I noticed I was being followed and executed a strategic maneuver,” Yarima reportedly said, successfully evading the assailants around 6:30 p.m.

The matter is said to be under investigation, with no further details given to avoid compromising the process.

Veterans Warn Against Punishing Yarima

On Tuesday, November 11, the young officer and his armed soldiers had prevented the minister from gaining access into a disputed land site in Gaduwa District of Abuja, said to belong to a retired senior naval officer.

The clash sparked public debate and prompted the Presidency to halt the demolition exercise the minister had wanted to superintend. The FCT ministry said unapproved construction was going on the land.

Military veterans nationwide criticized Wike for verbally insulting the officer and rejected calls for disciplinary action.

Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, said, “Military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria—not individual public officials. Wike must apologise for his remarks. How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera?”

He warned that ex-service members would “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if Yarima faced punishment.

Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar also reassured that no military personnel acting lawfully would be sanctioned.

“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty. Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well,” he said during a ministerial briefing at the National Defence College.

But in the civil space, some voices are beginning to back the minister. They fear that the successful prevention by the soldiers of law enforcement by the minister and his FCT officials, could embolden more resistance to civil democratic authorities in future if left unaddressed.

The motive of the supposed attackers is unclear. For now, it is only the word of the officer Yerima against no one in particular.