Tense Standoff in Gaduwa: Wike’s Bulldozers Clash with Navy Over Revoked Land Allocation

Abuja – A dramatic confrontation unfolded yesterday afternoon in Abuja’s Gaduwa District when Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike arrived at a 30-hectare site with official bulldozers to enforce the revocation of land originally allocated to retired Vice Admiral Awwal Zabiru Gambo in 2020. The operation, intended to reclaim the plot for reallocation, was halted by Navy personnel, sparking heated exchanges and underscoring deepening frictions in the capital’s land administration.
The site, located in the rapidly developing Gaduwa area, had been granted to Vice Admiral Gambo—a former Chief of Naval Staff—five years prior as part of incentives for high-ranking retirees. However, under the Wike administration, the allocation was revoked and the land reassigned to other prominent figures, including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, among others. Sources close to the FCT Administration confirmed that the revocations stem from a broader review of land titles deemed irregular or undeveloped, aimed at curbing speculation and accelerating urban development in Abuja.
Eyewitnesses described a tense scene around 2:00 p.m. as Wike’s convoy, flanked by FCT officials and heavy machinery, approached the fenced property. Blocking their path was Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, a Navy officer dispatched by Vice Admiral Gambo, who positioned himself and a small team of personnel to prevent entry. Yerima, citing “legitimate orders” from his superior and emphasizing the validity of the 2020 allocation, refused to yield, leading to a standoff that lasted over an hour.
The exchange escalated quickly, with reports of verbal altercations including pointed insults directed by Minister Wike toward the Navy contingent. “This is not a military barracks; this is FCT land under my jurisdiction,” Wike was overheard shouting, according to multiple observers on site. Yerima, maintaining composure, reiterated his mandate to safeguard the property pending legal resolution, reportedly stating, “We are here on direct instructions from a retired flag officer, and we will not allow unauthorized access.”
As the situation risked spiraling into a full-blown security incident, Wike placed an urgent call to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi  Oluyede, seeking immediate intervention for de-escalation. General Oluyede office confirmed receipt of the call but provided no further details on the discussion. By late afternoon, the bulldozers remained idle at the perimeter, and no entry was gained into the site. FCT officials departed without incident, postponing the enforcement action.
This episode highlights persistent tensions in Abuja’s land governance, where high-profile revocations have become a flashpoint since Wike assumed office in August 2023. Critics, including affected allottees, argue that such moves disrupt long-standing entitlements and favor political allies, while the administration defends them as essential for equitable resource distribution. Vice Admiral Gambo’s representatives have yet to issue a public statement, but legal experts anticipate court challenges could follow.
Clarion Newschannel will continue monitoring developments in this matter, as it raises questions about the intersection of federal authority, military entitlements, and urban planning in Nigeria’s capital.