When the Military Clashes with Civil Authority: A Critical Examination of The FCT Minister Versus a Naval Officer

Abstract

This paper critically examines the altercation that occurred on 11^th November 2025 between Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and a naval officer of the Nigerian Navy, Lt. A.M. Yerima, in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. The incident involved a contested land plot and escalated into a verbal confrontation, highlighting tensions between civilian authority and the armed forces. Using a qualitative social research approach, the study draws on media reports, video evidence, legal texts, and scholarly literature to critically assess the actions of the minister, the senior officer who issued orders to the naval personnel, and the junior naval officer. Findings suggest that while the minister’s mandate was legitimate, his method and tone breached institutional decorum; the senior officer exhibited poor judgment in deploying military personnel to a civil land dispute; and the junior naval officer displayed commendable professional restraint by insisting on obeying lawful orders. The paper concludes with recommendations to strengthen civil‑military boundaries, land governance, and institutional protocols.