A Nigerian Navy officer Yerima who is at the centre of a recent confrontation with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja.
Lt. A.M. Yarima was allegedly trailed on Sunday, evening by unidentified men dressed in black and travelling in two unmarked Hilux vehicles.
Military sources told Vanguard the suspects followed him from a NIPCO filling station along the Expressway to Gado Nasco Way before he noticed their movement and executed strategic manoeuvre to evade them.
The incident was said to have occurred around 6:30pm.Officials say the matter is under investigation and is being treated with “the seriousness it deserves,” though further details are being withheld.
The development comes days after a widely circulated video showed Lt. Yarima engaged in a tense exchange with Wike over a contested land site in Gaduwa District.
The altercation sparked national debate and prompted the Presidency to halt the demolition exercise at the centre of the dispute.
The fallout has drawn strong reactions from military veterans, who criticised Wike for verbally insulting the officer.
The Coalition of Retired Veterans warned they would “occupy the office and residence” of the FCT Minister if the Navy officer faced any disciplinary action.
Spokesman Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts insisted that service personnel owe allegiance to the nation, not political officeholders, and demanded an apology from Wike.
“How can a public office holder call an officer a fool on camera?” he asked.
Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has since reassured the military community that no officer acting within the law will be sanctioned.
“We will always protect officers on lawful duty,” he said during a briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Veterans had earlier vowed nationwide action if Lt. Yarima faced punishment.
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