The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, accompanied by Rear Admiral A.M. Yerima, on Wednesday visited the contentious Gaduwa District property in Abuja. The site at the center of a viral clash between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and soldiers the previous day remains sealed by the FCT Administration (FCTA) amid allegations of illegal land development.
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The unannounced visit by the naval top brass came just 24 hours after Wike’s inspection team was reportedly blocked by uniformed personnel from accessing the plot, sparking accusations of “intimidation” and “impunity.” Eyewitnesses described the CNS’s tour as low-key, with Abbas and Yerima inspecting the sealed perimeter alongside FCT officials, though no public statements were issued during the walkthrough.
Tuesday’s confrontation unfolded when Wike, leading officials from the FCT Department of Development Control, arrived to enforce a stop-work order on what the administration deems an unauthorized construction on a designated green space. Video footage circulating online captured Wike challenging the soldiers, saying, “You have no document… You cannot be carrying a gun to intimidate anybody. I am not one of those that they can intimidate.”
The minister reiterated that the developers lack valid title documents or building approvals, emphasizing the plot’s original allocation in 2007 to Santos Estate Limited for park and recreational use along a road corridor. “We cannot continue this way. This country cannot go along this line,” Wike declared, ordering the immediate sealing of the site pending full verification.
The property has been linked to retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, a former Chief of Naval Staff, who allegedly purchased a portion from the company without FCT consent for conversion to commercial purposes. Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, described Gambo as a “scam victim” during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, urging him to seek administrative resolution rather than military intervention.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the site remained cordoned off with FCTA signage prohibiting access, while construction equipment lay idle under heavy security.
The CNS’s visit appeared to be an internal assessment, possibly to review the circumstances surrounding the previous day’s incident and ensure compliance with land-use regulations. Sources close to the Nigerian Navy, speaking anonymously, indicated that Abbas aimed to “de-escalate tensions” while reaffirming the military’s non-interference in civilian matters. Rear Admiral Yerima, known for his role in naval operations, was reportedly tasked with coordinating any follow-up inquiries.
Neither the Navy nor the FCTA has confirmed whether the visit yielded new agreements, but it underscores the delicate balance between military estates and federal oversight in Abuja’s sprawling urban landscape. The incident has reignited debates on land grabbing, with civil society groups calling for transparent allocation processes to prevent elite-driven disputes.
In a related development, Abayomi Shogunle, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police for Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to share a pointed quote from Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. The post, accompanied by an official IGP flyer, read:
“The truth is that a nation’s first line of defence is not its army; it is its people educated, disciplined, and united by the rule of law.” IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, Inspector-General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria 🇳🇬
NPF01 🫡
“The truth is that a nation’s first line of defence is not its army; it is its people; educated, disciplined, and united by the rule of law.” – IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PhD, NPM, Inspector-General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria 🇳🇬.
NPF01 🫡 pic.twitter.com/2pNLEMZyLG— CP Abayomi Shogunle, Ph.D., 𝘧𝘴𝘪 (@YomiShogunle) November 12, 2025
Shogunle’s timing mere hours after the Wike-military footage went viral has drawn interpretations as a veiled critique of the soldiers’ role in the Gaduwa standoff.
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