Buratai Warns Wike-Navy Officer Clash Poses Threat to National Security, Calls for Immediate Action

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has raised alarms over the confrontation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Nigerian Navy officer in Abuja, describing it as “a clear and present danger to national security” and urging swift corrective action.

In a statement on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Buratai said Wike’s conduct “transcends mere misconduct” and undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.

The clash reportedly occurred at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, during a dispute over a parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Wike, accompanied by senior FCDA officials, visited the site to halt what he called an “illegal construction” and confronted a naval officer supervising the property.

In a viral video, Wike questioned 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 was authorized to protect it.

Buratai condemned Wike’s public rebuke, calling it “a reckless act that strikes at the core of Nigeria’s command and control structure.” He added, “A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the very foundation of our national security apparatus. It is not political theatre—it is a reckless endangerment of national order.”

He called on President Bola Tinubu to treat the incident as a national security concern and demanded an immediate public apology from Wike to the President, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved, stressing that the integrity of the military must be preserved.

The incident has sparked mixed reactions. Activist Omoyele Sowore criticized the military for protecting private property instead of focusing on national security, saying the situation reflects “misplaced priorities and entrenched self-interest among public officials.”

Conversely, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe defended Wike, describing the officer’s actions as indicative of systemic corruption and calling for the officer’s removal. Legal expert Prof. Sebastine Hon also weighed in, stating that the officer’s actions violated the law, noting that military regulations do not permit officers to guard private property, and reaffirming Wike’s authority over land administration in the FCT.