
News
Wike rushed to site to confront military officer despite service chiefs’ advice to wait – Defence Minister, Metawale
Nigerian Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle, has said the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, defied the advice of top military chiefs and went ahead to confront a naval officer, Lieutenant Commander Yerima, at a disputed site in Abuja.
Wike had engaged in a heated argument with the naval officer during a visit to a property site in Gaduwa District, Gudu, Abuja, allegedly occupied by the military.
In a video that went viral on social media, Wike was seen accusing the officer of obstructing his directive regarding the land.
Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, Matawalle described the incident as unfortunate and said Wike had earlier contacted both the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who advised him to allow the military to investigate the matter before taking any action.
“What happened between Minister Wike and the officer is unfortunate. When he got there, the officer explained that he was simply obeying orders given to him. Wike should not have exchanged words with the officer; he ought to have addressed his concerns through the officer’s superiors,” the minister said.

Matawalle explained that the naval officer only acted according to instructions and had shown discipline and respect during the exchange.
“He (Wike) is our colleague, and Wike could have reached out to us to resolve whatever issue. The officer’s action was lawful—he was trained to be disciplined, loyal, and obedient to orders. Therefore, the young officer only carried out his duty worthy of commendation,” he stated.
According to the Defence Minister, the officer did not violate any military rule and conducted himself properly throughout the encounter.
“He did not commit any offence under military regulations; he merely obeyed a lawful order and followed due process. If you observe carefully, he spoke respectfully and conducted himself properly,” Matawalle added.
He further cautioned that government officials must show respect to members of the Armed Forces, noting that disrespect to a uniformed officer indirectly undermines the authority of the President as Commander-in-Chief.
“There is, therefore, no offence under military law for which he should be charged. Wike should not have engaged him in an altercation, especially out of respect for the uniform he was wearing. Anyone who disrespects a soldier indirectly disrespects the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. There is, therefore, no basis for any punishment against the officer,” he said.
Matawalle clarified that his remarks were not meant to justify indiscipline within the military but to emphasise the importance of following command procedures.
“This is not about supporting the military to act disrespectfully toward civilians. The Minister should understand that every officer has superiors. I gathered that he called the Chief of Defence Staff, who advised him to wait for an investigation,” he explained.
The Defence Minister revealed that Wike ignored the advice and instead rushed to the site to personally confront the officers.
“However, he did not wait and instead went straight to the site. As a leader, he ought to have exercised patience and waited for the outcome of the investigation,” Matawalle said.
He added that the Chief of Naval Staff had also assured Wike that an inquiry would be conducted, yet the FCT Minister still proceeded to the location.
“Wike also contacted the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that an investigation would be conducted. Yet again, he did not wait. It was supposed to be a one-day inquiry, but he chose to go there and confront them,” the minister noted.
Matawalle confirmed that the Chief of Naval Staff has since visited the disputed area to begin a formal investigation into the ownership of the land.
“Now that the Chief of Naval Staff has visited the area—since it involves a land dispute—the matter will be investigated to know who owns the lawful documents,” he said.
He added that any revocation of the land should have followed proper administrative and diplomatic procedures rather than confrontation.
“If the land has been revoked, there are established procedures to be followed diplomatically,” Matawalle said.
The Defence Minister disclosed that the Ministry of Defence has not received any formal complaint from Wike over the incident but noted that he personally reached out to the FCT Minister after the video went viral.
“We have not received any formal complaint from Wike, but I called him after the video went viral and advised that he should have spoken with me before going there, rather than confronting the officers directly,” Matawalle concluded. [TheNiche]
News
2027: Mbah Leads the Charge as Enugu APC Unveils Campaign Council
…Sen. Nnamani, Nwobodo, Dr. Nnamani, Chime, Ugwuanyi, Prof. Nnaji, Arthur Eze, Frank Nweke, Madueke, others get advisory roles
…Udeh, Nwoye, Utazi, Egumgbe, Ben Collins Ndu, Onyia, others head 51 Directorates
…Council to be inaugurated on Tuesday
The Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, unveiled the party’s Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Campaign Council, comprising 51 Directorates, is chaired by the Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, while the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Deputy National Chairman, APC (South); Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; and the Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, are Vice Chairmen.
The list signed by Chukwunweike and the Secretary of Enugu APC, Hon. Chukwudi Nnadozie, also has Chief Charlie Mbah as the Director-General of the Campaign Organisation and Dr. Eric Oluedo as the Secretary-General.
Deacon Okey Ogbodo, Dr. Dan Shere, and Hon. S.K.E. Udeh-Okoye are Deputy Campaign DGs for Enugu East Senatorial District, Enugu North Senatorial District, and Enugu West Senatorial District, respectively.
Barr. Steve Oruruo is the Campaign Spokesperson and Director of the Public Communication Committee, with Dr. Austin Okolie as co-spokesperson and Dr. Malachy Agbo as Secretary.

Mazi Uche Anichukwu and Dan Nwomeh, both drawn from the Governor’s media team, head the Directorate of New Media and Strategic Communication and the Directorate of Mainstream Media, respectively. Dr. Collins Ogbu is the Secretary of the former, while Dr. Reuben Onyishi is the Secretary of the latter.
Barr. Victor Udeh leads the Administration Directorate, while Dr. Ben Nwoye and Arc. Uche Nwatu are the Director and Co-Director of the Fundraising Committee, respectively.
Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd.), chairs the Security Directorate, while former Inspector General of Police, Ogbono Onovo (Rtd.), is the Secretary.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology is in charge of the Directorate of Government Appointees Coordination (Federal and State), with Prof. Chidiebere Onyia as Secretary, while former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odoh, heads Inter-Party Affairs.
Senator Osita Ngwu, Senator Ikeje Asogwa, and Senator Kelvin Chukwu are Coordinators of the Campaign Council in Enugu West, Enugu North, and Enugu East, respectively.
Meanwhile, in their co-signed statement, Chukwunweike and Nnadozie said the size of the Campaign Council was a reflection of “the conviction that every community, ward, local government area, professional group, support organisation, youth body, women’s group, elder, party faithful and person of goodwill must be seen, heard and meaningfully engaged.”
“Appointment into the campaign structure is therefore not merely an honour; it is a call to duty, accountability and measurable contribution,” they stated.
The Council will be inaugurated at the International Conference Centre, Enugu on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
All members of the Campaign Council are to be seated before 3pm.
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News
Terrorists Abduct Sunday Igboho’s Iru Ekun Security Group Members in Kwara
Tension has gripped parts of Kwara State following the reported abduction of members of the Iru Ekun Security Group, a security outfit spearheaded by Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.
The assailants reportedly abducted the security operatives and forced them to renounce their activities of protecting communities in the state.
According to reports, the abducted members pleaded for their release and were compelled to renounce their community protection activities.
The Iru Ekun Security Group was established to protect Yoruba communities in Kwara State against terrorist attacks and kidnappings.
The reported abduction has sparked fear among residents who rely on the group for protection against insecurity in their communities.

As of the time of filing this report, Igboho had yet to issue a statement on the reported abduction of the security group members.
News
Ifeanyi Ubah’s Elder Sister, Fidelia Chigbogu, Dies Suddenly at 61
Fidelia Ezinwanne Chigbogu, the immediate elder sister of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has died at the age of 61.
Mrs Chigbogu, fondly called “Darling” by her husband, reportedly slumped and died on Sunday morning in Lagos while preparing to attend church.
Her husband, Chudi Chidinma Chigbogu, a native of Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, described her death as a devastating shock, saying she had shown no signs of illness before the incident.
“It was like a shock to me because, even as I am talking to you now, I never believed it,” he said.
Narrating the circumstances surrounding her death, Mr Chigbogu said the family had experienced an electrical incident the previous Thursday when their electricity meter exploded and burnt their changeover room.

He said they had contacted officials of the electricity distribution company, who promised to visit on Monday to replace and relocate the meter.
“We were busy waiting for them. My wife said she would give testimony in church on Sunday, and we were preparing for that,” he said.
According to him, his wife woke up on Sunday morning without any apparent health complaints and was preparing to leave for church when the incident occurred.
“That Sunday morning, she woke up. There was nothing like a headache, nothing like fever, nothing. She finished bathing and was preparing to go to church. She usually leaves home between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. because of the roles she plays in the church,” he said.
Mr Chigbogu explained that he was washing his car because of dust when he became concerned that his wife had not come downstairs.
“I went to wash the car because of dust. Around 8 a.m., I called my son and said, ‘Why has mummy not come down? Go and check.’
“Only for the boy to go and start screaming that he called his mummy and she did not answer. He lifted her hand, and her hand dropped,” he recounted.
He said he immediately rushed upstairs and found his wife lying unresponsive on the bed.
“I called her names, no way. I alerted neighbours, and we carried her to six hospitals. Anywhere we went, they would take me aside and say I didn’t bring her on time, that she had passed on.
“I said no, it was not possible, until we got to Navy Hospital, where they refused to admit her,” he said.
Mr Chigbogu said prayers continued at their home for several hours as the family struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
He recalled that around 4 p.m., someone told him she had seen his wife in a vision, moving swiftly without looking back, which she interpreted as a sign that the deceased had made it to heaven.
“That was when I changed my mind and allowed an ambulance to come. She left here after 6 p.m. and got to the village around 7 a.m. the next day,” he said.
Describing his late wife, Mr Chigbogu said she was a natural leader, peacemaker and philanthropist who played a significant role in her family, church and community.
“Aside from calling her Darling, I called her many names because she was a leader. No matter the case in the family, she would settle it.
“She is the founder of a women’s group, played a very big role in the church and was known for her charitable work. Before her passing, she was working on her orphanage.
“Even though she is no more, I will not let her down. I will make sure that project comes to pass,” he said.
On her family background, Mr Chigbogu said her parents had seven children—three boys and four girls—and that his late wife was the second daughter.
He added that she was also one of the trustees of the Ubah family.
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