A tense confrontation erupted in Abuja when soldiers blocked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from accessing a disputed 30-hectare land parcel in the Gaduwa/Gudu district. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, quickly escalated into a heated verbal exchange between Minister Wike and the military personnel on guard duty, identified by various sources as Lt. A.M. Yarima or Captain Adam Yariman.

Reports indicate that Minister Wike, accompanied by approximately 50 armed police officers and two bulldozers, arrived at the site with the intention of reclaiming the land and demolishing existing structures. However, the soldiers, numbering about 12 and led by Lt. Yarima, staunchly refused access, leading to a direct clash. Wike vehemently accused the soldiers of obstructing government officials and acting illegally, emphasizing that "You cannot be higher than any government. You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody." He also questioned the legality of the military presence, stating there were no documents authorizing it, and noted he had already spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) regarding the matter.

The verbal sparring was intense. Wike, visibly enraged, yelled at Lt. Yarima, saying, "Shut up, keep quiet, you are a fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school." He further called the officer "a big fool" at another point. Despite the minister's怒火, Lt. Yarima stood his ground, asserting his integrity and stating, "Sir, I will not shut up. Sir, I won’t shut up. Sir, you can’t shut me up." He insisted that he was acting under lawful orders from a "three-star General" and that "Everything was acquired legally." The officer’s defiance reportedly shocked onlookers, including accompanying DSS and police officials.

Fresh details have since emerged regarding the contentious Plot 1946, CZ B13, in the Gaduwa district. Initially, this green area, measuring about 30-31 hectares, was reportedly designated as a park and recreation area and was allocated to serving and retired military personnel, including the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (Rtd). However, Minister Wike allegedly revoked these allocations and reallocated the land to his political associates, with one beneficiary purportedly being the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Sam Amupitan.

A legal practitioner involved in the case, speaking exclusively to SaharaReporters, claimed that the revocation and redistribution were executed "in total disregard of due process, official recommendations, and existing approvals." The source further alleged that Wike unilaterally changed the land use from 'park/recreation' to 'multi-purpose' before issuing fresh Rights of Occupancy (RofO) to the new beneficiaries. Despite recommendations for approval dating back to 2014, these were reportedly ignored by the minister. Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Rtd) is said to have significant vested interests in the land and had already commenced development.

Minister Wike, during the confrontation, challenged the military to approach his office for resolution, asserting that intimidating Nigerians with guns was not the proper way. However, the soldiers, citing directives from the former naval chief, reportedly refused to vacate the land. The Nigerian Army, through its legal channels, has challenged Wike to go to court over the dispute, a challenge he has allegedly refused to take, despite his frequent advice to other aggrieved landowners to do so. This incident marks the latest in a series of confrontations related to land ownership disputes and demolition exercises in the FCT under Wike's leadership, raising significant questions about military involvement in property matters and the enforcement of land regulations.