“I Won’t Sit and Watch Officials Attacked” — Wike Responds After Face‑Off With Naval Officer

In a sharp and public response to a viral confrontation at a disputed land site in the capital, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), declared he would not remain passive while government officials were assaulted during enforcement of regulatory duties.

The incident unfolded over Plot 1946 in the Gaduwa district of Abuja, which the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) says was allocated to Santos Estate Limited for park and recreation use — not to retired Chief of Naval Staff Awwal Zubairu Gambo, who claims ownership and allegedly began development despite a stop‑work order.

Wike said that Gambo deployed serving Naval Officers to the site of the dispute, using them to obstruct FCDA officials carrying out lawful duties — an act the Minister described as an “abuse of power.”

“How can I sit as a Minister when Government Officials are being attacked and beaten up — officials at the level of Directors? And I’ll just sit in my office doing what?” Wike asked at a press briefing.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described a chaotic standoff, with Naval Officers attempting to fortify the plot while FCDA officials sought to enforce the stop-work directive. Wike’s personal intervention reportedly helped calm the situation, allowing Government workers to document the illegal activities and carry out their duties.

The Minister criticized Naval officer A.M. Yerima for referring to Police officers present as “bloody Police,” calling such language “unacceptable from a commissioned officer.” Wike emphasized that his criticism was not aimed at the Nigerian Military as an institution, noting his “respect for the Military,” but rather at the misuse of Military personnel for private disputes.

Wike contrasted the incident with how other influential Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and retired General T.Y. Danjuma, resolve land disputes — through dialogue and legal processes, rather than force.

Beyond the immediate confrontation, this episode has sparked Nationwide debate on civil‑military boundaries, land governance, and enforcement of State authority in the FCT. The Minister’s decisive action sends a clear message: when Government officials are attacked or obstructed, civil authority will intervene to uphold the law.