A heated confrontation erupted on Tuesday at Gaduwa village in Abuja when soldiers prevented the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and officials of the FCT Administration from accessing a piece of land allegedly owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd).
The land, located on Plot 1946, became the center of dispute after Wike accused the ex-naval chief of illegally developing the property without valid approval or documentation from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Visibly upset, Wike demanded to see legal documents for the land, stating that no one, regardless of their position, was above the law. “Show me the documents. You have no documents. We cannot continue with this impunity,” he said, accusing the military of attempting to use force to intimidate FCTA officials.
Responding, the senior military officer on site, A. M. Yerima, denied claims of intimidation, insisting that the land’s development had the necessary approvals. The exchange grew tense as both sides stood their ground, with Wike warning that the military would not be allowed to develop the disputed property.
Following the altercation, Wike told reporters that he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff regarding the matter. He emphasized that the FCTA would not tolerate illegal land acquisition or construction in Abuja, regardless of the individual involved.
“I have spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, and they have assured me that the matter will be resolved. We are not here to cause chaos, but I will not allow illegal development or land grabbing to continue simply because someone was once in power,” Wike said.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Military Veterans condemned the minister’s outburst during the confrontation, accusing him of disrespecting a uniformed officer. The group, through its spokesperson Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, said Wike’s behavior was unbecoming of a public official and called on him to apologize.
In response, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, alleged that the military personnel on-site had threatened to shoot officials of the FCTA Department of Development Control during the inspection. He also claimed that the former naval chief had no title documents or building approval for the disputed property.
The military authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
This latest clash adds to a growing list of land disputes in the Federal Capital Territory, where Wike has led a strict enforcement campaign against illegal developments and land encroachments since assuming office.
Under his leadership, the FCTA has demolished several unauthorized structures and vowed to restore the integrity of Abuja’s master plan.