By Deborah Nnamdi
There was tension in Abuja on Tuesday when armed soldiers reportedly barred the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and senior officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) from accessing a disputed parcel of land in Gaduwa District.
In a video shared by Channels Television, soldiers were seen standing guard at the site, blocking the minister and his entourage. One of the officers was captured making a phone call as Wike, visibly angered, reprimanded his aides while attempting to proceed. The confrontation reportedly escalated into a physical altercation between some members of the minister’s team and the military personnel.
The incident occurred at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District— a property allegedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd). Wike had stormed the location following reports that soldiers had taken over the land and chased away officials of the FCT Department of Development Control who earlier attempted to enforce a stop-work order.
Addressing journalists at the site, Wike expressed shock that soldiers could obstruct legitimate government action, describing the development as “unacceptable and illegal.”
“When this matter was brought to my attention, I directed that nothing should take place on that plot since there were no legal documents or urban regional approvals. Unfortunately, I was informed that soldiers chased our officials away,” the minister said.
He accused the former Naval Chief of using soldiers to intimidate public officials, stressing that no one is above the law.
“I don’t understand how someone who once occupied such a high office cannot come to the FCT Minister to explain his situation but instead uses soldiers to intimidate people. I will not succumb to blackmail or intimidation,” Wike declared.
The minister further revealed that his team requested the necessary land documents and building approvals, but none were presented by the occupants.
Condemning the use of military personnel to obstruct lawful enforcement, Wike said he had contacted the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who both assured him that the matter would be resolved amicably.
“We are not here for confrontation or to cause chaos, but I will not allow illegality to thrive. The same way we enforce the law in other parts of Abuja is the same way we will do here. No one, not even a former Chief of Naval Staff, is above the law,” he said.
The incident underscores Wike’s ongoing crackdown on land racketeering and illegal developments across the FCT, with several high-profile properties recently demolished for violating planning regulations.
