The Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle, has condemned the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, for directly confronting a naval officer during a land dispute in Abuja, describing the action as “regrettable” and “avoidable.”
The confrontation, which occurred at a contested property in the Gaduwa District of Abuja, sparked public debate after a video surfaced online showing Wike engaging in a heated argument with Lieutenant Commander Yerima.
The minister accused the naval officer of obstructing his directives concerning the site, reportedly occupied by the military.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle said the altercation could have been avoided had Wike heeded earlier counsel from both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff.
He disclosed that Wike had been advised to await the outcome of an internal military investigation into the matter before taking any direct action.
“What happened at the site was unfortunate,” Matawalle said. “The officer was carrying out lawful orders and maintained discipline and respect throughout. The FCT Minister should have channelled his grievances through the proper chain of command rather than confronting the officer.”
The Defence Minister emphasized that the naval officer acted within the scope of his duties and did not violate any military regulations.
He warned that public confrontations with uniformed personnel could undermine the authority of the Armed Forces and, by extension, that of the President as Commander-in-Chief.
“There is no justification for punishing the officer,” Matawalle added. “His conduct was professional. Civil authorities must respect the military hierarchy and the chain of command.”
Matawalle clarified that his comments were not meant to excuse any potential misconduct but to stress the importance of due process in resolving inter-agency conflicts.
He revealed that despite assurances from the Chief of Naval Staff that the issue would be investigated, Wike still proceeded to the site and confronted the naval personnel in person.
“As a leader, he should have exercised patience and allowed the investigation to conclude,” he said.
Following the incident, the Chief of Naval Staff reportedly visited the disputed land to initiate a formal investigation into its ownership.
Matawalle maintained that any eventual resolutionwhether through land revocation or administrative review must follow legal and procedural steps, not public altercations.
He further disclosed that the Ministry of Defence has yet to receive any formal complaint from Wike but noted that he personally reached out to the FCT Minister to advise him to follow the proper channels in future dealings with the military.
“We encourage dialogue, cooperation, and adherence to due process to prevent unnecessary escalation,” Matawalle concluded.
