Pat Stevens/
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has commended naval officer A.M. Yerima for his composure during a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over an alleged land grabbing incident in Abuja.
Speaking at a press briefing to launch activities for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the National Defence College, Abuja, Badaru reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding officers performing their duties lawfully.
“At the ministry, and indeed the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty,’’ the minister said.
“We are looking into this issue and assure that any officer performing his duties lawfully will be highly protected. We will not allow anything to happen to him so long as he is doing his job, and he is doing it very well.”
Badaru’s statement followed a heated exchange between Wike and Yerima on Tuesday over a disputed parcel of land reportedly under the protection of armed naval personnel acting on the instruction of former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
Wike had accused the retired naval chief of unlawfully taking over the land, a claim that led to his confrontation with Yerima.
A video obtained by Newsmakerslive.org captured the visibly agitated minister challenging the officer during the altercation.
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