A young Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yarima, who recently challenged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Honorable Nyesom Wike, has reportedly escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja.
This incident occurred just days after their widely publicized confrontation over a disputed land site in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
Naval sources revealed that Lieutenant Yarima was trailed on a Sunday evening by unidentified men dressed in black and traveling in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates.
The pursuit began around the NIPCO Filling Station off the Line Expressway and continued toward Gado Nasco Way, where Yarima managed a strategic escape from the suspected attackers around 6:30 p.m.
The confrontation that brought Lieutenant Yarima into the spotlight was dramatic and caught national attention. While on official duty related to a land demolition exercise, Yarima physically blocked the FCT Minister from gaining access to a contested land plot in Gaduwa.
The officer’s actions were captured on video and widely circulated, sparking a public debate over the legality, authority, and military-civil relations involved in the land dispute.
This confrontation forced a pause in the demolition exercise, pending further investigations and public discourse, and led to calls for government intervention to resolve the issue amicably.
Yarima’s escape from the assassination attempt amplified concerns about the personal safety of military officers who take stands in politically sensitive matters.
Nigerian military veterans and civil society groups have expressed support for the naval officer. A coalition of retired servicemen even warned they would demonstrate against any intimidation or punitive action directed at Yarima.
The incident underscores the high stakes involved in conflicts between political office holders and security personnel, especially where property rights and enforcement operations overlap with political interests.
In the wake of the incident, security authorities in Abuja have launched investigations into the assassination attempt, though details remain tightly controlled to avoid compromising the inquiry.
Despite the gravity of the situation, there are contrasting responses from different government arms.
While military sources and veterans have condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Lieutenant Yarima, the Federal Capital Police Command has publicly dismissed the assassination attempt rumors as false and unverified information, illustrating the complex nature of official narratives around politically charged events.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has publicly defended Lieutenant Yarima, criticizing Minister Wike for defying military advice during the land dispute.
Mr. Matawalle emphasized that no military law condones misconduct by political authorities overriding the military’s operational decisions, thus framing the naval officer’s stand as a defense of the military institution against political encroachment.
This adds a significant dimension to the controversy, revealing tensions in civil-military relations within Nigeria’s governance framework.
The officers involved, including Lieutenant Yarima, were reported to be on legitimate official assignments when the confrontation occurred.
There were also attempts on social media to misrepresent Yarima’s background, including false claims that he was the son of a retired Army spokesperson or was engaged in unauthorized military actions.
These assertions have been debunked with fact checks confirming Yarima’s bona fide status and his upbringing in Rivers State, adding clarity to his position in this conflict.
Overall, the saga involving Lt. A.M. Yarima and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike exposes deeper governance challenges in Nigeria—ranging from land disputes and enforcement jurisdiction to the protection of military personnel in politically sensitive assignments.
It serves as a litmus test for the Nigerian government’s commitment to rule of law and institutional alignment between civilian authorities and the military.
The incident’s aftermath continues to stir calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention to resolve the tension and ensure the safety of officers on duty, reflecting wider public concern about the stability of civil-military relations in the country.