The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has defended the conduct of Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, the naval officer who confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a dispute over a parcel of land allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (rtd).
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations, Badaru said the Ministry of Defence and the military hierarchy would continue to protect officers performing their lawful duties.
“At the Ministry, and indeed within the Armed Forces, we will always stand by our officers when they are on lawful duty,” the minister said. “We are reviewing the incident, and I assure you that any officer acting within the law will be fully protected. We will not allow anything to happen to him so long as he is doing his job — and doing it well.”
The minister’s remarks come amid public debate over Tuesday’s heated confrontation between Wike and the naval officer at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja.
In a viral video, Wike accused the officer of obstructing officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) from enforcing a stop-work order on a disputed property allegedly tied to the retired naval chief. The exchange drew sharp reactions nationwide, with some defending the officer’s conduct as professional, while others described it as an affront to civil authority.
Badaru’s comments signal that the Defence Ministry may stand by Yerima pending the outcome of internal investigations into the altercation.
