There was a heated confrontation on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and an unidentified military officer over an alleged land-grabbing incident at the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
A viral video of the altercation, obtained by our correspondent, shows the visibly angry minister accusing the officer of illegally taking possession of a parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike was heard saying in the video.
The officer, dressed in military camouflage, interrupted the minister, insisting that the property was lawfully acquired and that he acted with integrity.
“I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” the officer replied.
Apparently angered by the interruption, Wike ordered him to keep quiet, but the officer refused, responding, “I will not shut up.”
The exchange escalated as Wike retorted: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
The officer maintained that he was deployed to the site on official orders, but Wike countered sharply, saying, “You will see if you will not leave here. Go and develop there and let me see.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian military nor the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had issued an official statement on the incident.
Land disputes and illegal allocations have remained recurring problems in Abuja. Since assuming office in August 2023, Wike has intensified efforts to curb unauthorised land acquisitions, illegal developments, and encroachments on government-designated areas.
The minister has also ordered several demolitions of what he described as illegal structures, vowing to restore the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan.