Wike, Military Officer Trade Insults in Abuja Over Alleged Land Grab

A heated confrontation erupted on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a yet-to-be-identified military officer during an inspection of a disputed plot in Gaduwa District, Abuja.

A viral video from the scene captured Wike accusing the officer of illegally acquiring the property, which he claimed was linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.

“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike questioned angrily.

The officer, dressed in military uniform, defended himself, insisting that the land was lawfully obtained. “I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” he said.

Tensions escalated when Wike ordered the officer to keep quiet, but he refused, saying he would not “shut up.” The minister, visibly furious, fired back, calling him “a very big fool,” and adding, “As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”

Despite the exchange, the officer maintained that his actions were within official duty and that the land was not under illegal occupation. Wike, however, vowed that no development would continue on the site until the dispute was settled.

As of press time, neither the Nigerian military nor the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had released an official statement regarding the altercation.

Land disputes and alleged illegal allocations remain recurring issues in Abuja. Since assuming office in August 2023, Wike has intensified enforcement efforts, including demolitions of structures deemed illegal, in a bid to “restore the Abuja Master Plan.”