A significant confrontation unfolded in Abuja when Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and officials from the FCT Authority (FCTA) clashed with soldiers over access to a disputed parcel of land. A video circulating on social media captured the tense exchange, showing Minister Wike in a heated argument with military personnel who were blocking access to a property within the FCT.

During the incident, Minister Wike vehemently challenged the soldiers, demanding that they cease obstructing FCTA officials. He asserted that the individuals claiming ownership of the property lacked valid title documents or building approvals. In the footage, Wike was observed attempting to de-escalate the situation by separating his security detail from the soldiers as tempers flared. Addressing the officers directly, he demanded to see the approval documents for the land, stating, “Show me the documents you have. You have no documents. We cannot continue to act with such impunity.”

Wike further expressed his outrage, telling one soldier, “Shut up, keep quiet, you are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.” He accused the soldiers of intimidation, adding, “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 that you can intimidate.”

A soldier, identified as the leader of the military contingent, maintained that they were simply following instructions and were not intimidating anyone. He insisted that the owner of the land possessed all the necessary and complete documents, stating, “On the contrary, sir. We are not intimidating anybody. The papers are complete and he said he has submitted them.”

Providing further context, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s media aide, posted on his official Facebook page that the clash stemmed from a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, allegedly building on land without proper title documents or building approval. According to Olayinka, Gambo reportedly sent his armed military security details to attack FCTA Department of Development Control staff and stationed armed military men to protect the illegal development, with threats to shoot anyone who interfered. Olayinka confirmed that Minister Wike visited the site after discussing the matter with the Chief of Defence Staff via phone.

The incident has since garnered widespread attention and reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the appropriate role of the military in such standoffs and calling for greater clarity regarding the ownership and legal status of the contested land.