Key Points
- Badaru praises Lieutenant A.M. Yerima for doing his duty calmly. He promises protection for any officer on lawful duty.
- The clash involved FCT minister Nyesom Wike at a site. Reports say the land is linked to ex-naval chief Gambo.
- Badaru says the military will not allow harm to officers. He adds officers who act lawfully will receive full protection.
Defence minister Mohammed Badaru has publicly backed the naval officer involved in an Abuja clash. Badaru spoke after video showed Lieutenant A.M. Yerima blocking FCT minister Nyesom Wike from entering a site. The minister said the matter is under review and that officers acting lawfully will be protected.
He praised the officer for acting within his orders and duties. See our earlier post Lt. Yerima stands firm for context and video.
The dispute centres on a plot said to belong to ex-naval chief Awwal Gambo. FCT officials have said there were no urban approval documents for that plot. Wike told officers he would handle the matter in his office if needed.
Badaru’s defence
Badaru told reporters his team is looking into the matter and will act. “So we are looking into this issue, and we assure that any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly.”
His intervention drew swift reactions from other politicians and commentators online.
More background is in our report Mohammed Yerima is named father.
Security sources said commanders will review the rules of deployment at the site. The Defence Ministry did not say if any formal probe has begun. Officials said they want calm and legal steps to settle the dispute.
Some ruling party figures praised the navy officer’s stance on social media. Opposition voices called for calm and a formal review of events at the site.
Land disputes in Abuja often end in court if not settled locally. Experts say clear title documents and urban approvals decide such cases.
The plot, numbered 1946, sits in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. Urban planners say buffer zones are not open to private development. Wike said the FCTA issued stop-work orders for the site earlier this week.
Former military chiefs and politicians warned against using force in land disputes. They urged both sides to use legal routes and public records to settle issues.
The Defence Ministry says it will cooperate with civil authorities on clarity. Officials stress calm while documents and ownership are checked by lawyers
Watch the statement below.
