Wike, Soldier in Heated Faceoff Over Abuja Land
— Drama as FCT Minister Trades Words with Army Officer, Sparks Social Media Storm -Samson Balogun
There was palpable tension in Abuja on Tuesday when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, engaged in a heated confrontation with a soldier over a disputed land parcel in the Gaduwa area of the city.
Eyewitnesses said the minister, who visited the site in company of officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), accused the military officer of illegally occupying government land and deploying armed soldiers to secure it.
The encounter quickly escalated into a shouting match, with the visibly enraged minister openly berating the officer for what he described as an “abuse of military privilege.”
“You Are a Very Big Fool,” Wike Tells Officer
In the viral video of the incident, Wike was seen angrily confronting the soldier, saying, “Because you are an officer? Nobody does that. You are a very big fool!”
The officer, who claimed to be acting under superior orders, maintained that the land had long been allocated to a senior military official. But Wike dismissed the claim, insisting that the FCTA had no record of any valid title to the property.
“You will see if you will not leave here,” the minister warned during the confrontation.
Sources within the FCTA later revealed that the land in question had been under dispute for several years, with claims that a former Chief of Naval Staff had stationed armed guards to protect it.
Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, told reporters that the minister was determined to ensure that “no institution, including the military, is above the law.”
As of press time, both the FCTA and the Nigerian Army had yet to issue official statements clarifying the matter.
Social Media Erupts
The dramatic exchange quickly became a trending topic online, with videos circulating across Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
On Instablog9ja, clips of the altercation drew thousands of comments within hours.
One of the popular posts read:
“Breaking News: E Don Happen!!! Wike faces off with soldier over Abuja land.”
Another video on the platform alleged that the land was originally allocated to a Nigerian Army colonel in 1984 before being revoked by Wike.
Reactions were sharply divided.
Some Nigerians hailed the minister for taking a bold stand against what they described as military impunity, while others criticized him for using harsh language against an officer in uniform.
A user commented:
“This is very unfortunate from the armed forces. They are not above the law.”
Another wrote:
“Wike should have been arrested and detained by the soldiers. His outburst was uncalled for.”
Analysts say the confrontation highlights the long-running tension between civilian authorities and the military in matters of land and governance within the FCT.
Wike, since assuming office, has repeatedly vowed to restore the Abuja Master Plan and reclaim lands allegedly encroached upon by individuals and institutions, including security agencies.
Observers say the incident may test the limits of civil-military relations and the minister’s ongoing land reform agenda.
The FCTA is expected to issue a formal statement on the ownership status of the land and possible enforcement measures.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army is reportedly reviewing the conduct of its personnel involved in the confrontation.
As Abuja residents continue to debate the viral footage, the incident has become another flashpoint in the ongoing struggle between the rule of law and institutional privilege in Nigeria’s capital city.