Lieutenant Yarima escapes assassination attempt in Abuja
According to military insiders who spoke anonymously to journalists, Lt. Yarima was pursued by unidentified men clad in black attire, traveling in two unmarked Hilux vans without license plates. The chase reportedly began at the NIPCO Filling Station along the Line Expressway and continued to Gado Nasco Way, unfolding around 6:30 p.m.
The officer, alerted to the tailing vehicles, performed a "strategic maneuver" to shake off his pursuers and evade the threat, the sources said. The incident is now under active investigation, with authorities emphasizing that it is being treated with utmost seriousness. Further details are being withheld to avoid jeopardizing the probe.
This alarming development follows a viral video-recorded standoff last week at a disputed land site in Gaduwa District, where Lt. Yarima—on duty alongside other security personnel—clashed with Minister Wike over an ongoing demolition exercise. The confrontation drew nationwide attention, leading to presidential intervention that promptly halted the demolitions.
In the aftermath, military veterans across Nigeria condemned Wike for allegedly insulting the officer on camera, calling him "a fool" and rejecting any demands for Yarima's punishment. Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesman for the Coalition of Retired Veterans, issued a stern warning: ex-service members would "occupy the office and residence of the FCT Minister" if any disciplinary action were taken against the lieutenant.
"Military personnel owe allegiance to Nigeria, not to individual public officials," Durowaiye-Herberts stated. "Wike must apologize for his remarks. How can a public office holder demean an officer in uniform on camera? This undermines national institutions and the dignity of public office."
The veterans had previously pledged to mobilize and occupy the FCT Ministry in protest if Lt. Yarima faced repercussions.
Amid the escalating tensions, Minister of Defence Mohammad Badaru Abubakar has vowed full protection for personnel acting within the law. Speaking at a ministerial briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations at the National Defence College, Badaru declared: "We will always protect officers and our armed forces personnel on lawful duty. Any officer on lawful duty will be protected if he is doing his job lawfully and doing it well."
Authorities have yet to release official statements from the Navy or the FCT Ministry regarding the alleged assassination attempt, as investigations continue.