A young Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yarima, who recently had a confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly escaped an assassination attempt on Sunday evening in Abuja.
According to military sources quoted by Vanguard, Yarima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black and riding 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.
Sensing danger, the officer executed what was described as a “strategic maneuver,” successfully evading the suspected assailants. The surveillance reportedly occurred around 6:30 p.m.
Sources confirmed that the incident is now under investigation, with full details being withheld so as not to compromise the process.
The development comes days after Lt. Yarima, while on duty with other security personnel, had a tense confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over a disputed land site in Gaduwa District. The clash, captured on video, generated public outrage and prompted presidential intervention, which halted the demolition exercise at the site.
Following the incident, several military veterans across the country criticised Wike for verbally insulting the officer and strongly rejected calls for disciplinary action against Yarima.
Spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, warned that ex-service members would “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if the officer was sanctioned, stressing that military personnel owe allegiance to the nation—not individual public officials. He insisted that Wike must apologise for his comments, questioning how a public office holder could call an officer “a fool” on camera.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has assured that no military personnel acting lawfully will be punished over the altercation.
“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty,” Badaru said during a briefing ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations. “Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.”
Military veterans had earlier vowed to mobilise and occupy the FCT Ministry if Lt. Yarima faced any form of disciplinary action.