A young Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. A. M. Yarima, who gained national attention after a heated clash with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, narrowly escaped what military sources describe as an assassination attempt on Sunday evening.
According to military insiders who spoke to Vanguard, the 6:30 p.m. incident unfolded as Yarima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black, traveling in two unmarked Hilux vans without license plates. The suspicious vehicles followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station along the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way in Abuja.
Alert to the surveillance, Yarima executed a strategic maneuver to shake off his pursuers, evading capture or harm. The matter is now under active investigation by security agencies, with officials emphasizing that it is being treated with the seriousness it deserves. Further details remain classified to safeguard the probe.
This development arrives just days after Yarima’s widely publicized standoff with Wike over a disputed land parcel in Gaduwa District. While on duty alongside other security personnel, the lieutenant challenged the minister’s demolition team, leading to a tense exchange captured on video that ignited public outrage. The footage showed Wike reportedly calling Yarima a fool, prompting swift presidential intervention to suspend the demolition.
The viral clip has fueled criticism against Wike, with military veterans across Nigeria rallying in defense of Yarima. Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, described the minister’s conduct as a direct affront to the armed forces. He declared that military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria, not individual public officials, and demanded an apology from Wike. He further warned that retirees would mobilize and occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister if any disciplinary measures were imposed on Yarima, vowing similar action against the FCT Ministry.
Durowaiye-Herberts also questioned the decorum of a high-ranking official, asking how a public office holder could call an officer a fool on camera, noting that such conduct undermines national institutions and demeans the dignity of public office.
In a reassuring statement, Defence Minister Mohammad Badaru Abubakar affirmed the government’s commitment to protecting service members. Speaking at a briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day at the National Defence College, he said the government will always protect officers and armed forces personnel on lawful duty and that any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well.
