A tense exchange occurred between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a group of Nigerian soldiers on Tuesday after the soldiers prevented the minister and his team from accessing a disputed parcel of land in the Gaduwa area of Abuja.
According to a report by Channels Television, the incident happened when Wike, accompanied by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), arrived at the site for an inspection but was stopped by armed soldiers who insisted that they were acting on orders.
An aide to the minister reportedly told the officers, “This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” after the soldiers blocked the convoy’s movement.
Reacting to the situation, Wike questioned the soldiers’ authority to obstruct a minister on official duty, warning against the misuse of military power.
“You cannot carry a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that can be intimidated,” he said. “There are no legal documents showing that this land was allocated to the military. You cannot continue to act with impunity.”
The minister further condemned the use of force in resolving disputes, stressing that proper administrative channels must always be followed.
“I don’t understand how someone in such a position cannot follow due process instead of intimidating Nigerians,” Wike added.
The soldiers, however, maintained their position, saying they were acting under instructions from a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, and refused to vacate the site.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the matter remained unresolved, with both parties standing their ground over ownership and authority concerning the disputed land.