Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, has stated that no officer or soldier performing “lawful duty” will face punishment following the confrontation between military personnel and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, in Abuja on Tuesday, November 11.

Speaking on Wednesday, November 12, during the ministerial briefing to launch the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day at the National Defence College, Abubakar emphasized the ministry’s stance: “Well, at the Ministry, and indeed the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty. So we are looking into this issue, and we assure that any officer on lawful duty will be protected highly, so we will not allow anything to happen to him so far he is doing his job, and he’s doing his job greatly well.”

The incident involved a dispute over a parcel of land allegedly owned by former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo. Naval officer Lt. A.M. Yerima reportedly blocked Wike and his entourage from entering the property, asserting he was acting on an “order.” Wike, however, claimed the land was “acquired wrongly” and demanded that construction be halted.

The situation escalated when Wike allegedly hurled “insults” at the officer, who remained defiant.

In response, a coalition of retired Nigerian military veterans warned that they would “mobilise and occupy the Ministry of the FCT” if the officer, who said he was acting on a “lawful order,” was penalized. They insisted that any action against him would be unjust, given his adherence to duty.