A Nigerian Navy officer who recently clashed with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike escaped a suspected assassination attempt on Sunday, according to military sources.
Lt. A.M. Yarima was reportedly trailed by unidentified men dressed in black and travelling in two unmarked Hilux vans without number plates, the sources said.
The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO filling station off the Line Expressway to Gado Nasco Way at about 6:30 p.m.
One source said the officer noticed the surveillance and carried out a “strategic manoeuvre” to evade the suspected attackers. The incident is now under investigation, and further details are being withheld to avoid compromising the process.
The alleged attempt comes days after Yarima was involved in a tense confrontation with Wike at a disputed land site in the Gaduwa District. The exchange, captured on video, drew widespread public attention and led the Presidency to halt a demolition exercise at the location.
Military veterans across the country have since criticised Wike for verbally insulting the officer during the encounter. The Coalition of Retired Veterans warned that its members would “occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister” if Yarima were punished.
“Military personnel swear allegiance to Nigeria, not to individuals,” the group’s spokesman, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, said, insisting that Wike must apologise for his comments, including calling the officer “a fool.”
Defence Minister Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has assured that no service member will be sanctioned for acting within the law.
“We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty,” he said during a briefing ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Veterans had earlier vowed to mobilise if any disciplinary action was taken against Yarima.