A dramatic confrontation broke out on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a group of armed soldiers who prevented him and his entourage from accessing a disputed parcel of land in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
Wike, who was on an inspection visit with senior FCT officials, was reportedly stopped at the gate by military personnel who insisted they were acting on “orders from above.”
The incident quickly escalated into a heated face-off, with the visibly angry minister accusing the soldiers of lawlessness and abuse of power.
“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” one of Wike’s aides was heard saying during the confrontation.
Condemning the soldiers’ conduct, Wike described their actions as a clear case of impunity and disregard for civil authority.
“You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those they can intimidate,” the former Rivers State governor said.
He alleged that the military officers had illegally taken possession of the land without proper documentation, vowing that his administration would not tolerate such acts.
“You have no document. We cannot continue to act in impunity. This country cannot go along this line,” Wike stated, stressing that due process must be followed in all land allocations within the FCT.
The minister further disclosed that the soldiers’ presence on the land was linked to directives purportedly issued by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd).
“I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position, seeing that he has a problem, cannot approach my office to say, ‘Look, this is what’s going on,’” Wike said.
“Or simply because he is a military man, they could use that to intimidate Nigerians. I’m not one of those kinds of people who will succumb to blackmail.”
Despite Wike’s orders, the soldiers reportedly refused to vacate the land, insisting they were under military instructions.
The latest incident adds to the growing tensions between FCT authorities and some security agencies over disputed lands in Abuja — an issue Wike has repeatedly vowed to address since assuming office.
He has consistently maintained that his administration will enforce the rule of law in land administration and recover all government lands illegally occupied by individuals or groups, regardless of their status.
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