The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has vowed that the Federal Government will stand firmly behind every military personnel carrying out lawful duties, following Tuesday’s confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja.
Badaru gave the assurance on Wednesday during a press briefing at the National Defence College, Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration.
The minister was responding to questions about the altercation between Wike and Navy Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, said to have occurred over a disputed plot of land reportedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.).
He said, “At the Ministry and within the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty.
We are looking into this issue, and I assure you that any officer performing his duty legally will be fully protected.
We will not allow anything to happen to him as long as he is doing his job diligently.”
Badaru stressed that the military remains committed to discipline and professionalism, adding that every officer deserves institutional backing while executing legitimate assignments.