Buratai Flags Wike-Navy Officer Clash as National Security Threat, Demands Urgent Action
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has warned that the confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja poses a serious threat to national security, calling for urgent corrective measures. In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai said Wike’s actions “transcend mere misconduct” and undermine the authority of the Commander-in-Chief as well as the integrity of the Armed Forces. The clash reportedly took place at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, over a land dispute linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Wike, accompanied by senior officials from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), visited the site to stop what he described as an “illegal construction” and confronted the naval officer supervising the property. In a viral video, Wike was seen questioning the officer’s authority, saying, “You are in uniform, and you’re telling me that the Navy owns this land? Who gave you the right to build without approval? Even if you are the Chief of Naval Staff, the law must be respected.” The officer replied that the property belonged to a former service chief and that the military had authorization to guard it. Buratai described Wike’s public rebuke as “a reckless act that strikes at the core of Nigeria’s command and control structure,” adding, “A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that threatens the foundation of our national security. It is not political theatre—it endangers public order.” He urged President Bola Tinubu to treat the matter as a national security issue and demanded that Wike issue an immediate public apology to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved, emphasizing that the integrity of the military must be protected. The incident has drawn mixed reactions. Activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the military for allegedly prioritizing the protection of private property over national security, describing the situation as “misplaced priorities and entrenched self-interest among public officials.” Meanwhile, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe defended Wike, calling the officer’s actions symbolic of systemic corruption and calling for his removal from the military. Legal expert Prof. Sebastine Hon also weighed in, stating that the officer’s conduct violated military regulations, which do not allow personnel to guard private property, and reaffirmed Wike’s authority over land administration in the Federal Capital Territory.
