Dare Babalola
Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru has assured that the federal government and military leadership will protect soldiers carrying out lawful duties.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru made the remark, marking the lead-up to the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The minister’s statement comes on the heels of a confrontation on Tuesday between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and military officers, who allegedly acted on the orders of a former Chief of Naval Staff.
He said, “Well, at the Ministry, and indeed in the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty.
“So, we are looking into this issue, and we assure you that any officer on lawful duty will be highly protected.
“We will not allow anything to happen to him as long as he is doing his job, and he is doing his job very well.”
Videos surfaced on social media on Tuesday, capturing a tense confrontation between Nyesom Wike and a military officer at a site.
In the footage, Wike is seen stepping in to defuse the situation, separating his security detail from the soldiers as tempers flared.
Speaking with the officers, the minister demanded to see the approval granted to the “owners” of the land.
A soldier, who appeared to be the leader of the group, said the officers were not intimidating anyone, adding that the owner of the land had all the necessary documents.
“On the contrary, sir, we are not intimidating anybody. The papers are complete, and he said he has submitted them.”
The incident has since sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the role of the military in the standoff and calling for clarity on the ownership and status of the contested land.
