The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described Tuesday’s confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant A. Yerima, over a disputed land plot in Abuja as unnecessary and avoidable.

Reports indicate that the standoff arose from a disagreement over ownership of a piece of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, which was being guarded by naval personnel under the command of Yerima. He was reportedly acting on the orders of retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo. Wike had accused the former naval chief of illegally seizing the land, an exchange that was captured on video and widely circulated, showing the visibly agitated minister confronting the officer.

In an interview with DCL Hausa, posted on its YouTube channel on Wednesday, Matawalle said the dispute should have been addressed through official channels rather than public confrontation. He explained that Wike had previously contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the matter before taking any action.

“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he arrived, the officer explained that he was simply following orders. Wike should not have exchanged words with him; he should have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” the Defence Minister said.

Matawalle praised Lieutenant Yerima for acting strictly according to instructions while maintaining professionalism and discipline throughout the encounter. “He is our colleague, and Wike could have reached out to us to resolve any issue. The officer’s actions were lawful; he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient. The young officer simply carried out his duty and deserves commendation,” he stated.

The minister emphasized that Yerima did not violate any military regulations and conducted himself appropriately. “He did not commit any offence under military law; he merely obeyed a lawful order and followed due process. He spoke respectfully and acted properly,” Matawalle added.

Matawalle also cautioned public officials against showing disrespect to uniformed personnel, noting that it undermines the authority of the President, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. “There is no basis for any punishment against the officer. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform. Disrespecting a soldier is indirectly disrespecting the President,” he said.

Clarifying his comments, Matawalle stressed that he was not condoning any form of military indiscipline but was highlighting the importance of respecting the chain of command. “This is not about supporting the military to act disrespectfully toward civilians. Every officer has superiors. Wike was advised to wait for an investigation, but he ignored the advice and went directly to the site,” he explained.

The Defence Minister confirmed that the Chief of Naval Staff has now visited the disputed site to conduct a formal investigation into the ownership of the land. “Any revocation or adjustment of the land should follow proper administrative and diplomatic procedures rather than public confrontation,” Matawalle said.

While the Ministry of Defence has not received a formal complaint from Wike, Matawalle personally contacted the FCT Minister after the video went viral, advising him that discussions should have occurred through official channels instead of confronting the officers directly.