- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has vowed to protect Lieutenant A.M Yerima, the Naval officer who challenged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Yerima had yesterday went toe-to-toe with Wike as he, alongside his colleagues denied the Minister and officials of the FCT Administration access to a land purportedly owned by former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (Rtd).
NPO Reported that a fierce confrontation had ensued between the Wike-led officials and the Naval officers.
The FCT Minister had engaged in a face-off with Yerima who held is ground as Wike verbally assaulted him.
The naval officer’s action and composure had earned him praises from netizens and public figures who hailed his courage to challange Wike.
However, calls for the protection of the officer had intensified on account to Wike’s threat against him during the confrontation.
Reacting to the development at an event on Wednesday, Badaru also hailed the officer’s professionalism in handling the situation.
He however vowed to ensure that he is highly protected from any intimidation or further threat.
“In our Ministry and in the Armed Force, we always protect our officers.
“So, we are looking into the situation and be rest assured that any officer lawfully on duty will be protected highly.
“We will not allow anything to happen to our officer. He is doing his job and he is doing it greatly well.” The Defence Minister said.
Meanwhile, there are also calls for a public apology from Wike to the Nigerian Army and the assaulted officer.