By Jude Atupulazi
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has reaffirmed that the Federal Government will defend and protect every member of the Armed Forces performing their lawful duties.
Badaru gave the assurance while addressing journalists at a Ministerial press briefing on the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Celebration held on Wednesday at the National Defence College, Abuja.
The Minister’s remarks followed Tuesday’s reported altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer, Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, over the development of a disputed land in Abuja allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd).
Speaking on the matter, Badaru said the Ministry of Defence was aware of the incident and would ensure the protection of officers carrying out their lawful responsibilities.
‘At the Ministry, and indeed within the Armed Forces, we will always protect our officers on lawful duty,’ he said, while assuring that they were looking into the issue.
‘I assure you that any officer performing his duty legitimately will be fully protected. We will not allow anything to happen to him as long as he is doing his job and doing it well,’ he maintained.
The Minister however did not disclose further details about the ongoing investigation into the incident.
