Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, has expressed full support for the Nigerian Army amid the recent confrontation between soldiers and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists at the flag-off of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Abuja, Badaru assured that no soldier acting within the law would face punishment.
“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty. Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and if he does it well,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s backing for the officer involved in the Abuja incident, commending his professionalism and service.
“We will always protect our officer. He has done well. We won’t allow anything to happen to him,” he added.
The assurance followed tension over an altercation between Wike and an army officer guarding a disputed parcel of land in the FCT an incident that sparked outrage among military veterans, who threatened to occupy the FCT Ministry if the soldier was sanctioned.
Badaru also used the event to highlight progress in the government’s fight against insecurity, noting that the Ministry of Defence under President Bola Tinubu had recorded significant operational gains through stronger inter-agency coordination.
According to him, over 13,000 terrorists and criminals have been neutralised, 17,000 arrested, and nearly 10,000 hostages rescued since the administration took office. He added that more than 100,000 Boko Haram and ISWAP members, including their families, had surrendered in recent months.
“These coordinated operations have led to the dismantling of key terrorist enclaves and the restoration of peace in several communities,” he said.
The minister further revealed that more than 1,900 illegal refining sites had been destroyed in the Niger Delta as part of efforts to safeguard national assets. He added that new Armoured Fighting Vehicles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and naval vessels had been procured to enhance operational readiness.
Meanwhile, the clash involving Wike continues to generate reactions. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT Minister, alleged that retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, a former Chief of Naval Staff, was deceived into purchasing land originally designated for parks and recreation.
In a post on X, Olayinka claimed that Gambo was “duped” by land speculators who sold him non-residential property and advised him to confront the scammers rather than FCTA officials enforcing lawful orders.
He explained that the land was initially allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 for recreational purposes. The company reportedly sought approval in 2022 to convert it to residential use, but the request was rejected. Despite this, the firm allegedly partitioned and sold the plots to buyers, including Gambo.
“Shouldn’t the former Chief of Naval Staff be more concerned with those who scammed him rather than using military might to hold on to property on which he was duped?” Olayinka asked.
He also reacted to comments by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, stating: “As Director General of Rotimi Amaechi Campaign, Buratai has done his job.”
