A heated confrontation broke out in Abuja on Tuesday as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, clashed with military officers guarding an alleged illegal development site reportedly linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd).
The incident, which was captured in a viral video now trending on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), occurred during Wike’s inspection of the disputed property located at Plot 1946, Buffer Transit, Southern Parkway, in the Gaduwa District of the FCT.
According to eyewitnesses, the officers—believed to be naval personnel—blocked Wike and his team from gaining access to the property, insisting they were “acting on orders” from superior officers.
The confrontation quickly escalated after Wike demanded to know under whose authority they were stationed at the site. In the video, the visibly angry minister could be heard saying:
“You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
In response, the officer replied calmly,
“I am not a fool, sir. I am acting on orders.”
The exchange has since sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians debating the tone of Wike’s remarks and the legality of the military’s involvement in a civil matter.
Sources within the FCT Administration said the minister’s visit was part of his renewed crackdown on illegal land acquisitions and unapproved structures in the capital city. Officials alleged that the development in question lacked valid title documents and had encroached on government land.
Efforts to reach the Nigerian Navy and the Defence Headquarters for official comment on the incident were unsuccessful as of press time. However, a senior FCTA official who spoke on condition of anonymity described the confrontation as “an act of impunity” and a “direct challenge to constituted authority.”
The incident has reignited concerns about the influence of retired military officers in Abuja’s property sector, where allegations of illegal land takeovers by powerful individuals have persisted for years.
Public outrage on social media continues to mount, with users sharing clips of the altercation and tagging both the FCTA and Defence Headquarters, demanding accountability.
As of Tuesday evening, neither Wike nor the Ministry of Defence had issued a formal statement regarding the standoff.