Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has clarified the events surrounding the minister’s confrontation with some soldiers in Abuja.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Olayinka said the altercation stemmed from a land dispute in the Gaduwa district, involving a former Chief of Naval Staff who was allegedly scammed in a land transaction and later attempted to assert ownership using military force.

According to him, the land was originally allocated in 2007 to Santos Estate Limited for park and recreation purposes but remained undeveloped because it lies on a road corridor.

“In 2022, the company wrote to the FCT Development Authority seeking approval to convert the land to commercial use,” Olayinka said. “Probably anticipating the minister’s approval, the company began partitioning and selling the land, including to the former Chief of Naval Staff.”

He added, “The former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed and has realised it. Instead of seeking help, he resorted to using military might.”

Tensions flared on Tuesday when Mr. Wike and his entourage confronted soldiers guarding the disputed site.

“This is unprofessional. You cannot be threatening a minister like this,” one of Wike’s aides told the soldiers as the minister attempted to access the land.

Visibly angered, Mr. Wike accused the officers of impunity and warned that no one was above the law.

“You have no document,” the minister told the soldiers. “We cannot continue to act with impunity. You cannot intimidate anybody with a gun. I am not one of those you can intimidate.”

Soldiers at the scene, however, claimed the ex-Naval Chief possessed documents proving ownership. Neither the retired officer nor the military has yet issued an official statement on the incident.