A young Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yarima, who recently had a tense public confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, reportedly escaped a suspected assassination attempt in Abuja on Sunday evening.
Military sources disclosed that Lt. Yarima was trailed by unidentified men riding in two unmarked black Hilux vans with no number plates. The vehicles allegedly followed the officer from the NIPCO Filling Station off the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way.
The incident reportedly occurred around 6:30 p.m. According to the source, Lt. Yarima noticed the surveillance and executed a “strategic maneuver,” successfully evading the suspected assailants.
The source confirmed that the matter is currently under investigation and is receiving “the seriousness it deserves,” noting that further details are being withheld to avoid compromising the process.
The development comes days after Lt. Yarima, while on duty, engaged in a highly publicized confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over a disputed land site in the Gaduwa District. The clash, which involved a security detail and was captured on video, sparked widespread public debate and led to the Presidency subsequently halting the planned demolition exercise at the site.
The confrontation centered on Lt. Yarima challenging the legality of the demolition, prompting Wike to verbally insult the officer on camera.
Following the incident, military veterans nationwide criticized Wike for his remarks and rejected calls for disciplinary action against Lt. Yarima.
Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, Spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, issued a stern warning, stating that ex-service members would “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if the officer faced any punishment.
Herberts stressed that military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria and not individual public officials, insisting that Wike must apologize for his comments.
“How can a public office holder call an officer ‘a fool’ on camera?” he queried, adding that such conduct undermines national institutions and demeans the dignity of public office.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has moved to quell concerns, assuring that no military personnel acting lawfully will be sanctioned over the altercation.
“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty,” Badaru said during a ministerial briefing. “Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.”
