Wike, soldiers clash in Abuja over land

Ebun Emmanuel — November 11, 2025

Naval officers reportedly acting on orders from retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, former Chief of Naval Staff, confronted and blocked Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike on Monday during an inspection of an alleged illegal development.

Wike, accompanied by senior FCT administration officials, visited plot 1946, Buffer Transit Southern Park Way, Gaduwa District, owned by Vice Admiral Gambo, where the Department of Development Control had planned a demolition.

The military officers reportedly blocked the site with a truck to prevent bulldozers from gaining access and physically confronted the Minister, insisting he would not be allowed entry.

Despite being shoved aside by the officers, Wike attempted to enter the site with his security aides but eventually turned back after making and receiving phone calls.

The FCT Minister stated that Vice Admiral Gambo has no approvals or legal papers to develop the land and accused him of attempting to seize it through intimidation.He vowed, however, that the illegal development would not be allowed to continue.

In a viral video, the FCT minister was heard asking one of the soldiers who told him they were “following orders” to “shut up”.

The minister further said the soldier was an idiot, to which he responded, “I’m not an idiot, sir” multiple times.

Wike further said, “You would have killed everybody here” to which the soldier replied, “We won’t kill anybody.”

The FCT Minister stated that Vice Admiral Gambo has no approvals or legal papers to develop the land and accused him of attempting to seize it through intimidation.

He added, “I’ve spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and I’ve spoken to the Chief of Naval Staff, and they have assured me that, please, they have to resolve the matter. And we’re not coming here to have a shootout with anybody to cause chaos and all. But what I can say, I would not allow it to happen.

“The way we have done and carried out our jobs in other areas is the same way it will be done here. He will not carry out this illegal deployment on land simply because he was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I would not allow that.”

Wike, soldiers clash in Abuja over land

Naval officers reportedly acting on orders from retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, former Chief of Naval Staff, confronted and blocked Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike on Monday during an inspection of an alleged illegal development.

Wike, accompanied by senior FCT administration officials, visited plot 1946, Buffer Transit Southern Park Way, Gaduwa District, owned by Vice Admiral Gambo, where the Department of Development Control had planned a demolition.

The military officers reportedly blocked the site with a truck to prevent bulldozers from gaining access and physically confronted the Minister, insisting he would not be allowed entry.

Despite being shoved aside by the officers, Wike attempted to enter the site with his security aides but eventually turned back after making and receiving phone calls.

The FCT Minister stated that Vice Admiral Gambo has no approvals or legal papers to develop the land and accused him of attempting to seize it through intimidation.He vowed, however, that the illegal development would not be allowed to continue.

In a viral video, the FCT minister was heard asking one of the soldiers who told him they were “following orders” to “shut up”.

The minister further said the soldier was an idiot, to which he responded, “I’m not an idiot, sir” multiple times.

Wike further said, “You would have killed everybody here” to which the soldier replied, “We won’t kill anybody.”

The FCT Minister stated that Vice Admiral Gambo has no approvals or legal papers to develop the land and accused him of attempting to seize it through intimidation.

He added, “I’ve spoken to the Chief of Defence Staff and I’ve spoken to the Chief of Naval Staff, and they have assured me that, please, they have to resolve the matter. And we’re not coming here to have a shootout with anybody to cause chaos and all. But what I can say, I would not allow it to happen.

“The way we have done and carried out our jobs in other areas is the same way it will be done here. He will not carry out this illegal deployment on land simply because he was a former Chief of Naval Staff. I would not allow that.”