Navy Lieutenant Adams Yerima, the young Regular Officer recently involved in a viral confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has reportedly escaped an attempted assassination in the Kubwa area of Abuja.
According to military sources, the incident allegedly occurred on Sunday evening after two unregistered Hilux vehicles reportedly trailed the officer from the NIPCO filling station along the expressway to Gado-Nasko Road in Kubwa. The occupants, described as “men in black with no nametags,” were said to have attempted to intercept the officer before fleeing when a crowd began to gather.
A security source said: “Two unmarked Hilux vehicles trailed the young officer to Kubwa. There was an assassination attempt on him. He’s shaken, but he’s safe. Special forces from the Army and Navy have moved to secure the area.”
Another source, who also claimed knowledge of the incident, credited Yerima’s alertness and special combat training with helping him evade the alleged threat.
“He is SBS-trained and very observant. He noticed the vehicles trailing him and took quick, strategic action. They were attempting to kidnap him, but the crowd that gathered disrupted their plan, forcing them to flee.”
Hybrid News gathered that several military vehicles were sighted within the Kubwa axis between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday as reinforcement teams reportedly combed the area.
The development comes amid ongoing public debate and widespread criticism of Minister Wike’s verbal altercation with Lt. Yerima during an inspection of the disputed 1946 Gaduwa land. Many Nigerians at home and abroad have condemned Wike’s conduct, while military veterans have demanded a public apology from the Minister and rejected any disciplinary action against the officer.
In a separate development, the FCT Police Command has denied receiving any report of an assassination attempt on Lt. Yerima.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, ANIPR, the police described the circulating reports as false and urged the public to disregard them.
“The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to publications alleging an attempted assassination on Lt. Ahmed Yerima. The Command wishes to categorically state that no such incident has been reported or recorded anywhere within the FCT. The public is advised to disregard this misinformation and desist from spreading unverified claims capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
The Command encouraged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activity to the nearest police division.