Afeez Ayinde SaheedA viral video has surfaced online showing trucks reportedly stationed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, leaving the site of the disputed land in Abuja.
In the footage, a man claimed that officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had withdrawn their trucks from the area following the recent confrontation between the minister’s team and military officers.
The clip showed several trucks driving out of the location as residents watched and cheered. One of the voices in the background was heard saying, “Shame on you, Wike don go with his trucks, soldiers have won this fight.”
Recall that Wike recently had a heated face-off with some military personnel led by Lt. Ahmed Yerima over ownership of a piece of land in Abuja.
MOST READ ARTICLES
According to the military officer, he was under strict orders to protect the property — a position that reportedly infuriated the FCT Minister.
The encounter led to a tense standoff between Wike’s security aides and the soldiers on site, which quickly drew national attention after footage of the incident went viral.
The video has since generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some praising the military’s conduct and others criticising the minister’s approach to the situation.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara governor, Bello Matawalle, has clarified that the military officer involved in the confrontation with Wike will not face disciplinary action.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle dismissed speculation about possible sanctions, describing the issue as overblown.
He noted that the Defence Ministry values mutual respect between civilian authorities and the armed forces, adding that the matter had been amicably resolved.
Matawalle stated that the officer acted lawfully and professionally during the incident.
“What happened with the minister is not good. The FCT minister (Wike) was not supposed to approach the young officer like that,” he said.
The former Zamfara governor further added, “He is our colleague — even if there is an issue, he should have contacted us first.
“What the soldier did was correct because he was trained to follow due process. He acted respectfully and deserves appreciation for that.”