A heated confrontation erupted on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a military officer over an alleged land-grabbing incident in Gaduwa District, Abuja.
A video obtained by our correspondent showed Wike accusing the officer of illegally taking possession of a parcel of land linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. The visibly angry minister questioned the officer’s justification for claiming the land, arguing that being a military officer or connected to a former official did not grant him the right to the property.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike said.
The officer, dressed in military camouflage, defended his actions, insisting that the acquisition was lawful and carried out with integrity. “I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” he replied.
The disagreement escalated, with Wike ordering the officer to remain silent. The officer, however, refused, prompting Wike to fire back: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
The officer maintained that he was deployed to the site on official orders, leading Wike to issue a final warning; “You will see if you will not leave here. Go and develop there and let me see.”
Land disputes and illegal allocations have been a recurring problem in Abuja. Since assuming office in August 2023, Minister Wike has intensified efforts to curb unauthorised land acquisition, illegal property development, and encroachments on government-designated areas, including ordering demolitions of illegal structures to restore the Abuja Master Plan.
