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Navy officer Lt. Yerima escapes alleged assassination attempt days after clash with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
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Unidentified armed men in unmarked Hilux vans reportedly trailed him before he executed a strategic escape.
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Military authorities launch investigation, as veterans warn against any intimidation of serving personnel.
A Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, who recently clashed with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Hon. Nyesom Wike, has reportedly survived an attempted assassination in Abuja.
Military sources told Vanguard that the officer was trailed on Sunday evening by unidentified men dressed in black and travelling in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates. The vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station, off the Line Expressway, to Gado Nasco Way.
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Sensing the surveillance, Lt. Yarima was said to have executed a “strategic manoeuvre”, enabling him to evade the suspected assailants. The incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. and has since been escalated to military authorities.
Sources confirmed that the matter is already under investigation and is being handled with “the seriousness it deserves,” adding that further details are being withheld to avoid compromising the process.
The development follows a tense confrontation between Lt. Yarima and the FCT Minister at a disputed land site in Gaduwa District, an incident captured on video and widely circulated online. The altercation drew public outrage and led to presidential intervention halting the demolition exercise linked to the dispute.
READ ALSO: http://Lt. Yarima Survives Suspected Assassination Attempt in Abuja
Military veterans across the country also condemned Wike’s conduct during the confrontation. Spokesman of the Coalition of Retired Veterans, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, warned that ex-servicemen would occupy the FCT Minister’s office and residence if any disciplinary action was taken against the officer.
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He criticised Wike’s verbal outburst, describing it as an affront to national institutions. “Military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria, not individual public officials. Calling an officer ‘a fool’ on camera is unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence, Hon. Mohammad Badaru Abubakar, has assured that no service member acting within the law will face sanctions over the incident.
“We will always protect officers on lawful duty,” he stated during a briefing ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Veterans had earlier vowed to mobilise nationwide if Lt. Yarima faced any form of reprimand.
