Let me tell you about a Tuesday in November 2025 that turned a relatively unknown Nigerian naval officer into one of the most talked-about people in Nigeria. His name is Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, and depending on who you ask, he’s either a hero who exemplified military professionalism or a junior officer who was misused by powerful people in a property dispute.
This is the story of how one confrontation in Abuja turned a young naval officer into a social media sensation, sparked national debates about military conduct, civilian authority, and what it means to do your duty in Nigeria.
The Viral Confrontation That Started It All
On Tuesday, November 12, 2025, a video went viral across Nigerian social media showing an extraordinary scene: FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, one of Nigeria’s most powerful and controversial politicians, engaged in a heated confrontation with a group of armed military personnel at a property site in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
At the center of this confrontation stood Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, a Nigerian Navy officer leading the military detail guarding the property.
Wike confronted the naval officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, over an alleged land-grabbing incident at the Gaduwa District in Abuja. A viral video showed the minister being stopped by military personnel led by Yerima from entering the site, prompting a heated exchange between his security detail and the officers in camouflage.
What happened next is what captured Nigeria’s attention. During the faceoff, Lt. Yerima interrupted the minister, insisting that the acquisition was lawful and that he had acted with integrity. Angered by Yerima’s courage, Wike ordered him to “shut up,” but the officer returned, “I will not shut up.”
“You are a very big fool. As at the time I graduated, you were still in primary school,” Wike spilt.
Think about that for a moment. A junior military officer, probably in his early 30s, telling a federal minister – a man who wields enormous political power – “I will not shut up.” In Nigeria, where respect for authority (particularly political authority) is often enforced through intimidation, this was unprecedented.
The video spread like wildfire. Within hours, Lieutenant Yerima became a household name.
Who Is Lieutenant AM Yerima?
Here’s what we know about the man behind the viral moment.
Aliyu Jalal, another Nigerian who knew Yerima from university days, shared personal memories and praised the officer’s character. “We called him MD back in ABU. Born and raised in Kaduna. We got admitted into the Faculty of Social Sciences the same year — 2011.”
So Lieutenant Yerima is from Kaduna, attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, and was admitted to the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2011. This would place him in his early to mid-30s at the time of the viral incident.
Akin Olaoye, a Nigerian who claimed to have met Lt Yerima aboard the NNS Kada, said the officer’s behaviour reflected the dignity expected of the armed forces. The NNS Kada is a Nigerian Navy Ship, indicating that Yerima has served on naval vessels as part of his military career.
What’s interesting is that multiple people who knew him from different contexts – university classmates, fellow service members – came forward after the video went viral to vouch for his character. That tells you something about the impression he’d made on people throughout his life.
Beyond these details, Lieutenant Yerima has maintained a relatively low profile, which is typical for junior military officers. He’s not on social media seeking attention or trying to build a personal brand. He was simply doing his job when circumstances thrust him into the national spotlight.
The Military Background: Understanding His Position
To understand Lieutenant Yerima’s actions, you need to understand what it means to be a Lieutenant in the Nigerian Navy and what his duties actually were that day.
A Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the Nigerian military. In the Navy specifically, Lieutenants typically have 3 to 7 years of service. They’re experienced enough to lead small units and make tactical decisions, but they’re still relatively junior in the overall military hierarchy.
Isa, who pointed out that Yerima is a naval officer, slammed him for leaving his constitutional duties to guard a land belonging to his former boss, in a city that many Nigerians can’t afford to pay rent.
This raises an important question: what was a naval officer doing guarding land in Abuja in the first place?
According to reports, the property in question was allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. It appears Lieutenant Yerima and his team were deployed to provide security for this property – a practice that, while controversial, isn’t uncommon in Nigeria where military personnel are sometimes assigned to provide security for high-ranking current or former officers’ properties.
Whether this deployment was appropriate is one of the central debates sparked by this incident. But from Lieutenant Yerima’s perspective, he was following orders. He’d been assigned to guard that location, and when the FCT Minister showed up demanding access, Yerima stood his ground and insisted on following proper procedures.
The Incident: What Actually Happened
Let’s break down what transpired on that Tuesday in Gaduwa, Abuja.
Minister Nyesom Wike, in his capacity as FCT Minister, arrived at a property that he apparently believed was acquired illegally or improperly. This wasn’t a random visit – Wike has been aggressive about addressing what he views as illegal land grabs in Abuja since becoming FCT Minister.
When Wike’s convoy arrived, they encountered military personnel led by Lieutenant Yerima blocking access to the property. Wike, who isn’t known for backing down from confrontations, demanded to know why military officers were preventing him – a federal minister – from accessing the land.
Wike, who had stepped in to quell the situation, furiously questioned why the military was laying claim to the property allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.
This is where things got heated. Wike likely expected the young officer to defer to his authority and step aside. But Lieutenant Yerima held his position, stating that he was carrying out legitimate duties and that the property acquisition was lawful.
In the video, Yerima can be seen holding his ground firmly while engaging with Minister Wike. His calm and resolute demeanor immediately drew attention, as social media users praised him for his courage in the face of authority.
What made the video particularly compelling was Yerima’s composure. He didn’t shout. He didn’t back down. He maintained military bearing while clearly stating his position. Even when Wike told him to “shut up,” Yerima respectfully but firmly refused.
This wasn’t defiance for defiance’s sake. From Yerima’s perspective, he had orders to secure that location. A minister showing up didn’t automatically override those orders. He needed proper authorization through his chain of command to stand down, not just the arrival of a powerful politician.
The Public Reaction: Hero or Pawn?
The Nigerian public’s reaction to Lieutenant Yerima was immediate and divided.
The “Hero” Narrative:
A young Nigerian soldier, Lt Yerima, has drawn widespread praise for his calm and disciplined conduct during a recent clash with Minister Nyesom Wike. Acquaintance and former classmates described him as a courageous and respectful officer who upheld military values under pressure. His actions have sparked public admiration and renewed conversations about respect for the armed forces.
Social media erupted with praise. Nigerians who are tired of seeing politicians disrespect military personnel, who are frustrated with the arrogance of the political class, saw Lieutenant Yerima as a breath of fresh air. Here was a young officer who knew his duty and wasn’t intimidated by political power.
Comments poured in: “This one of the few galant soldiers now everyone do ur job. You only respond to President not politicians.”
“I am not a fool sir. Good officer.”
There were also plenty of comments about his appearance – “He’s so handsome” and “This fine bobo na good boy, he still add Sir” – showing how his respectful demeanor, even while standing his ground, resonated with people.
“I met Lt Yerima on the NNS Kada and he is a very fine gentleman. No commissioned officer who fights to defend this country & our freedom should be treated like an errand by boy. Hon Minister Wike was given a masterclass in observing decorum & civility. Kudos to the young officer!”
The Critical Perspective:
But not everyone saw Yerima as a hero. Some Nigerians, particularly legal and political analysts, raised uncomfortable questions about what he was actually doing there.
A Nigerian barrister, Firsts Baba Isa, has reacted to the viral video of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and a military officer, A.M. Yerima, having a heated exchange at a property in Gaduwa, Abuja.
While many Nigerians are hailing the military officer as a hero for how he conducted himself, Barrister Isa thinks otherwise.
“He is not a hero. Hero for what? Naval officers in other countries don’t achieve hero status by being deployed to guard highbrow properties of their former bosses. This is why Donald Trump said he will come in, bomb us and leave and no one will even know. How would we know when a commissioned naval officer is leading well armed naval forces to guard land? Ordinary land o.”
“Out of the over 200 million Nigerians how many of us can own property in the FCT? But today your hero is a Naval officer who left his constitutional duties to guard the property of his former boss in a city that ordinary Nigerians cannot even afford to pay their rents, in a country where America has vowed to attack us because of Christian genocide due to the failure of the military.”
This perspective argues that while Yerima himself may have acted professionally, the fundamental situation – a naval officer with armed personnel guarding private property in Abuja – represents exactly what’s wrong with Nigeria’s military. They’re being used as private security for powerful individuals rather than defending the nation.
It’s a valid point that deserves consideration.
The Political Fallout
The incident didn’t just spark social media debates – it had real political consequences.
APC Chieftain Joe Ibokwe had called for the sack of the military officer who stood up to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. In a post shared on social media, Ibokwe criticised the conduct of the officer identified as Lieutenant Yarima, describing his actions as “disrespectful” to constituted authority.
Political operatives loyal to Wike argued that no military officer should speak to a federal minister the way Yerima did. They saw it as insubordination and disrespect for civilian authority.
On the flip side, military veterans condemned Wike over the clash with the naval officer. The group urged the presidency to call the minister to order, insisting that his behaviour undermines discipline, governance, and the authority of the Nigerian state.
This became a proxy battle for larger issues:
- Civilian control of the military vs military autonomy
- Political accountability vs military professionalism
- The use (or misuse) of military personnel for private interests
- Respect for institutions vs respect for individuals in power
What the Law and Military Code Say
Here’s where things get complicated from a legal and military standpoint.
In a properly functioning system, military officers take orders through their chain of command, not from civilian politicians (except the Commander-in-Chief – the President). If Lieutenant Yerima had orders from his superior officers to secure that location, then technically, Minister Wike showing up doesn’t automatically override those orders.
However, as FCT Minister, Wike does have authority over land matters in Abuja. If he believed the property was illegally acquired, he had the right to investigate and take action.
The question becomes: whose authority takes precedence in this specific situation? And more importantly, what was the proper procedure for resolving this standoff?
From a military discipline perspective, Yerima’s conduct was actually quite correct. He remained respectful, didn’t escalate to physical confrontation, clearly stated his position, and presumably would have complied with proper orders through his chain of command. He didn’t defer to Wike’s political authority, but he also didn’t disrespect it – he simply maintained that he had his own orders to follow.
The bigger issue isn’t what Yerima did, but rather why a naval officer was in that position in the first place. That decision was made by people far above his pay grade.
The Question Nobody’s Asking: Who Gave the Orders?
Here’s what gets lost in the “hero vs pawn” debate: Lieutenant Yerima didn’t wake up one morning and decide to guard that property. He was deployed there. Someone with significant authority ordered a naval officer and armed personnel to provide security for that location.
Who made that decision? Who in the naval hierarchy authorized using military resources to guard what appears to be private property? Was it legal? Was it appropriate?
These are the questions that actually matter for understanding the systemic issues at play. Lieutenant Yerima is a junior officer following orders. The real story is about the senior officers or officials who put him in that position.
But focusing on Yerima – whether to praise or criticize him – is easier than holding powerful people accountable for the decisions that created this situation in the first place.
What Happens Next for Lieutenant Yerima?
As of now, Lieutenant Yerima’s immediate future is uncertain. There are several possible outcomes:
Scenario 1: Protection and Promotion If military leadership decides he acted appropriately and wants to protect military autonomy from political interference, they might shield him from consequences and even reward his professionalism.
Scenario 2: Quiet Punishment He could be transferred to a remote posting or otherwise sidelined as an informal punishment, even if no formal disciplinary action is taken. This is common in military hierarchies when someone becomes politically inconvenient.
Scenario 3: Formal Discipline Less likely given public sympathy, but possible if political pressure is applied to make an example of him.
Scenario 4: Early Exit Yerima might choose to leave military service, either voluntarily or under pressure, and transition to the private sector where his newfound fame could actually be an asset.
What’s concerning is some social media users predicted potential retaliation: “Make them no transfer him go forest ooo” (Don’t let them transfer him to a remote forest posting).
This reflects a sad reality in Nigeria – sometimes doing the right thing professionally can have career consequences when it inconveniences powerful people.
The Broader Context: Nigeria’s Civil-Military Relations
The Yerima-Wike incident is a microcosm of Nigeria’s complicated civil-military relations.
Nigeria has a history of military rule. The return to democracy in 1999 was supposed to establish clear civilian control over the military. In principle, that’s correct – democracies require civilian oversight of the armed forces.
But in practice, Nigeria’s democratic institutions are often weak, and military personnel are frequently misused by politicians and powerful individuals for personal security, property protection, and intimidation.
This creates situations where military officers are caught between following orders from their superior officers (who may themselves be influenced by powerful civilians) and the broader constitutional principle that they should serve the nation, not individual interests.
Lieutenant Yerima found himself in exactly this kind of situation. He was doing his duty as assigned, but that duty itself was arguably problematic.
Lessons from the Lieutenant Yerima Story
What can we learn from this incident?
For Military Personnel: Professional conduct matters. Lieutenant Yerima’s calm, respectful but firm demeanor is why he garnered so much public support. If he’d been aggressive, disrespectful, or unprofessional, the public reaction would have been completely different.
For Politicians: Power doesn’t mean you can disregard institutional protocols. Wike’s aggressive approach to a military officer – regardless of whether he was right about the underlying land issue – showed poor judgment and damaged his public image.
For Citizens: We need to ask deeper questions. Instead of just celebrating or criticizing individuals, we should be demanding accountability about systemic issues: Why are military personnel guarding private property? Who authorized it? What reforms are needed?
For the Military Institution: This incident highlights the need for clearer guidelines about when and how military personnel can be deployed for non-defense purposes. The current ambiguity creates these problematic situations.
The Man Behind the Uniform
At the end of the day, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima is a young Nigerian man who joined the Navy to serve his country. By all accounts from people who know him, he’s professional, respectful, and committed to his duties.
He didn’t ask to become a viral sensation. He was simply in a difficult situation and handled it with composure and professionalism.
Whether you view him as a hero standing up for military dignity or as a pawn misused in a property dispute, one thing is clear: he conducted himself with integrity in a moment when many people might have crumbled under pressure.
“We called him MD back in ABU. Born and raised in Kaduna.” That’s the detail I keep coming back to. He’s someone’s friend, someone’s classmate, someone’s colleague. He’s a real person who suddenly found himself at the center of a national conversation about power, authority, and principle.
Final Thoughts
The story of Lieutenant AM Yerima and his confrontation with Minister Wike will likely be debated for a long time. It touches on so many issues that matter to Nigerians: respect for institutions, misuse of military personnel, political accountability, and what it means to do your duty even when it’s uncomfortable.
My take? Lieutenant Yerima handled a difficult situation with professionalism. That should be acknowledged. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the larger questions about why he was in that situation in the first place.
Nigeria needs military officers who are professional, principled, and committed to their constitutional duties. We also need a system that doesn’t put those officers in compromising positions by using them as private security for the powerful.
Lieutenant Yerima’s story is still being written. Whatever happens next in his career, he’s already taught Nigeria an important lesson about the power of maintaining your integrity under pressure.
Sometimes standing your ground – calmly, respectfully, but firmly – is exactly what the moment requires.
What do you think about Lieutenant Yerima’s actions? Was he a hero standing up for military professionalism, or was the whole situation inappropriate from the start? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
