A young Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. A.M. Yarima, narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt on Sunday evening, just days after a public confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed land site in Gaduwa District.
Military sources told Vanguard that Yarima was tailed by unidentified assailants dressed in black, travelling in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates.
The vehicles reportedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station off the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way.
The sources said Yarima, noticing the surveillance, executed a “strategic maneuver” and successfully evaded the suspected attackers.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. and is currently under investigation, with further details withheld to preserve the integrity of the inquiry.
The incident follows a tense clash between Lt. Yarima and Minister Wike while the officer was on duty with other security personnel at the contested Gaduwa site.
The confrontation, which was widely circulated online, prompted the Presidency to halt demolition work and ignited a national debate on respect for security personnel.
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Military veterans have since condemned Wike’s actions, particularly his verbal insult toward Lt. Yarima. Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, warned that ex-service members would “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if Yarima faced disciplinary measures.
Durowaiye-Herberts emphasised, “Military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria—not individual public officials. How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera? Such conduct undermines national institutions and demeans the dignity of public office.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar assured that lawful actions by military personnel would be fully protected.
Speaking during a briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the National Defence College, he stated, “Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.”