Tension erupted in Abuja after soldiers reportedly clashed with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), preventing them from accessing a disputed plot of land.
The confrontation occurred during an official inspection visit to an area in the nation’s capital said to be earmarked for government development. According to eyewitnesses, a group of armed soldiers stationed at the site resisted the Minister’s team from gaining entry, claiming they were acting on “orders from above.”
Videos circulating online show moments when Wike and his entourage were stopped at the entrance of the disputed property, leading to a heated exchange between the FCTA officials and the military personnel on ground. The situation reportedly created panic among onlookers and forced security operatives attached to the Minister to step in to prevent escalation.
Sources suggest that the land in question has been at the center of a long-standing dispute between the Nigerian Army and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, with both parties claiming ownership and control. While the army insists the property falls under its jurisdiction for operational purposes, the FCTA maintains that it is government land designated for public infrastructure development.
Speaking briefly after the encounter, Wike expressed shock at the incident, describing it as unacceptable for any security agency to challenge constituted authority. “No individual or institution is above the law. The land belongs to the government and must serve the public interest,” he reportedly stated.
The Minister further hinted that the Federal Government would investigate the confrontation to determine who authorized the soldiers to block a ministerial team.
Meanwhile, the clash has stirred widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the breakdown of coordination between federal agencies. Some commenters described the event as “a reflection of institutional indiscipline,” while others called for calm and dialogue to resolve the lingering land ownership disputes in Abuja.
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army nor the FCTA had released an official statement addressing the incident.
