The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, says the ministry has begun an investigation into the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, A. M. Yerima, over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja to flag off activities for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Badaru assured that the military would stand firmly behind its officers who are carrying out legitimate duties.
“Well, at the ministry, and indeed the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty. We are looking into this issue, and we assure all that any officer on lawful duty will be highly protected. We will not allow anything to happen to him so long as he is doing his job, and he is doing his job very well,” he said.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, reportedly saw Wike accusing naval personnel of illegally occupying a piece of land said to belong to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
In his reaction, Wike described it as an alleged illegal takeover of a disputed land in Abuja by military personnel reportedly acting on the orders of a former Chief of Naval Staff, describing the act as lawless and unacceptable.
The minister said he had visited the site after receiving reports of soldiers chasing away FCTA officials enforcing development control directives.
“You are aware that the land departments and the Development Control have the mandate to monitor illegal development and land grabbing,” the minister said.
“When this was brought to my attention, I instructed them to ensure that nothing takes place there, as there were no legal documents—no regional approval, no valid acquisition.”
According to Wike, while officials of the Department of Development Control were on site to implement his directive, they were chased away by armed soldiers allegedly acting under the instruction of a retired senior officer.
“I was informed that the soldiers of the military had to chase them away, and I thought they were acting illegally,” Wike said. “Today, while I was in the office, I was called again that the military had taken over the place. I had to come myself to see things. It’s really unfortunate.”
He expressed shock that a person who once held a top military position could resort to such intimidation rather than follow due process.
Beyond the controversy, Badaru unveiled several new defence initiatives aimed at boosting national security and improving the welfare of military veterans.
He announced the launch of the Reclaiming the Ungoverned Space for Economic Benefits Programme (RUSEB-P)”, an initiative designed to deploy retired but active veterans to secure and restore areas previously controlled by terrorists.
“By engaging veterans to reinforce local security and initiate projects like farming and mining, RUSEB-P will prevent the resurgence of terrorism, revitalise local economies, and strengthen national security and cohesion,” he explained.
The minister also introduced the “Thank A Soldier” QR Code platform, enabling Nigerians to send messages of appreciation to troops serving on the frontlines.
Highlighting progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Badaru disclosed that security forces had neutralised more than 13,000 terrorists and criminals, arrested over 17,000 suspects, rescued nearly 10,000 hostages, and dismantled 1,900 illegal refining sites.
He further revealed that over 100,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters and their families had surrendered to security forces.
On veterans’ welfare, the minister said a Veterans’ Databank and Call Centre were being set up, while 2,141 Civil War veterans who previously lacked pension eligibility had now been enrolled. The government also plans to amend the Nigerian Legion Act and rename it the Veterans Federation of Nigeria (VFN).
Badaru noted that the Defence Health Maintenance Limited currently covers over 400,000 people, including 205,000 veterans and their dependents.
He called on Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of troops and fallen heroes, saying, “We must continue to honour gallant men and women who embody valour, discipline, and unity — the pillars of our democracy and sovereignty.”
