A Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yarima, who was recently involved in a widely publicised confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, reportedly escaped a suspected assassination attempt in Abuja on Sunday evening.
According to military sources quoted by Vanguard, Lt. Yarima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black and travelling in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates. The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station off the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way.
The officer was said to have observed the suspicious pursuit and executed what sources described as a “strategic manoeuvre”, enabling him to evade the alleged assailants. The incident reportedly occurred at about 6:30 p.m.
A military source said the matter is currently under investigation and is receiving “the seriousness it deserves,” adding that additional details are being withheld so as not to compromise ongoing enquiries.
Incident Follows High-Profile Clash With FCT Minister
The development comes just days after Lt. Yarima, while on official duty, engaged in a tense confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike during a disagreement over a disputed land site in the Gaduwa District. The altercation, which was captured on video and circulated widely online, triggered intense national debate and led the Presidency to suspend demolition activities at the location.
Following the clash, several military veterans criticised Minister Wike for verbally insulting the officer, insisting that Yarima should not face disciplinary action for performing his lawful duties.
Spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, warned that ex-service members were prepared to “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” should any sanctions be imposed on the officer. He emphasised that members of the armed forces owe allegiance to Nigeria and not to individual public office holders.
“How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera?” he asked, arguing that such conduct undermines national institutions and demeans the dignity of public leadership.
Defence Minister Reassures Military Personnel
Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, has also moved to calm tensions, assuring that no officer acting within the law would be punished over the Gaduwa incident.
“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty,” he stated during a ministerial briefing ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the National Defence College.
“Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.”
Veterans’ groups had earlier vowed to mobilise nationwide should Lt. Yarima face any form of disciplinary action.
