Former military generals have expressed outrage over the clash between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer identified as A. Yerima, during a confrontation over a disputed plot of land in Abuja.

The retired officers, in separate interviews, condemned the incident, describing it as a breach of military discipline and a threat to institutional respect.

Following public outcry, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, announced that the Federal Government has launched an investigation into the matter. Speaking during a press briefing to flag off the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day activities at the National Defence College, Abuja, Badaru commended the naval officer for his composure and assured that lawful military personnel would be protected.

“At the ministry, and indeed in the Armed Forces, we will always protect officers on lawful duty. We are looking into this issue, and any officer performing legitimate duties will be fully protected,” he said.

The face-off reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a piece of land allegedly taken over by former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd.), and guarded by armed naval officers under Yerima’s command. Wike had accused the retired admiral of illegally occupying the land, leading to a heated exchange that was captured on video.

Reacting to the incident, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), urged Wike to apologise to President Bola Tinubu, the Armed Forces, and the naval officer. He described the minister’s outburst as disrespectful and damaging to the chain of command.

Buratai said, “A minister publicly disparaging a uniformed officer undermines national security and weakens military discipline. It erodes the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and sends the wrong signal to serving personnel.”

Another retired officer, Brig. Gen. Peter Aro (retd.), said the episode reflected poor handling of civil–military relations in a democracy. He noted that Yerima was acting under lawful orders from his superior and that Wike should have raised his concerns through official channels rather than confrontation.

“The minister had every right to query the land ownership but should have done so through lawful procedures such as contacting the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, or the courts,” Aro said. “A public altercation only undermines institutional integrity.”

Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) also criticised Wike’s conduct, describing it as unbecoming of a senior public officer. He stated, “Any confrontation with a military officer is indirectly a confrontation with the Commander-in-Chief and should not be tolerated.”

However, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Publicity to the FCT Minister, defended his principal, insisting that Wike acted within the law. He explained that the disputed land, located in Mabushi, was originally designated for park and recreation in 2007 and not for private or residential use.

Olayinka alleged that the former naval chief purchased part of the land through an illegal transaction and later attempted to use military influence to assert ownership. “Vice Admiral Gambo does not possess any valid title document or approved building plan for the property,” he added.

Meanwhile, constitutional lawyer Prof. Sebastine Hon (SAN) faulted the naval officer’s actions, saying that obstructing a serving minister was unlawful. He argued that the FCT Minister, by law, exercises presidential powers over land administration in Abuja and therefore could not be prevented from accessing government property.

Hon stressed that no service law authorises a serving officer to guard the private property of a retired superior, warning that such conduct could attract disciplinary action under the Armed Forces Act.

Another legal expert, Simon Lough (SAN), agreed that while the minister acted within his constitutional authority, his personal visit to the site was unnecessary. “He could have handled the issue administratively instead of personally confronting the officer,” Lough stated.

Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi also condemned the confrontation, arguing that no minister has the legal power to issue orders to military personnel. “The Armed Forces operate under the command of the President through the military hierarchy, not through political appointees,” he said.

Olajengbesi warned that the incident, if unchecked, could strain civil–military relations. “Ministers manage civil administration; the President, through the service chiefs, controls the military. A soldier answers to his commanders, not politicians,” he concluded.

The Federal Government has since pledged a transparent investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the altercation and prevent future occurrences.