The Nigerian Navy has maintained silence following a heated confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and some naval personnel over an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
When contacted on Tuesday for a reaction, the Navy’s spokesperson, A. Adams-Aliyu, simply said, “No reply for now.”
The altercation reportedly occurred when Wike visited the disputed site and accused the military of illegally taking over the land, which is allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
In a video obtained by our correspondent, a visibly angry Wike was seen confronting an officer in military uniform.
“Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. The man took land because he was the Chief of Naval Staff?” Wike queried.
The officer, however, interrupted, insisting that the property was acquired through proper legal channels.
“I am an officer with integrity. Everything was acquired legally,” he said.
The exchange quickly grew tense as Wike, visibly infuriated, ordered the officer to be quiet.
“I will not shut up,” the officer fired back, prompting Wike to retort sharply: “You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school.”
The officer maintained that his presence at the site was based on official deployment orders.
“You will see if you will not leave here. Go and develop there and let me see,” Wike responded as the confrontation escalated further.
In a statement later issued by the Assistant Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Rabi Umar, Wike condemned the actions of the military personnel, describing their conduct as “an act of lawlessness.”
“I instructed FCTA officials to ensure that no activity takes place on that land without valid building approval or proof of legal acquisition.
“When they first visited, I was told that military personnel chased them away. Today, I came myself after being informed that the military had taken over the site,” the statement quoted Wike as saying.
The Nigerian Navy has yet to issue an official statement on the matter as tensions continue to simmer over the disputed land.
Credit: Punch
