Ibadan – A wave of reports circulated across Nigerian media and social platforms on Friday alleging that Lieutenant A.M. Yerima, the naval officer who recently clashed with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja. Our investigation into the claim — across mainstream news outlets, military-related statements, and social media chatter — reveals a developing story marked by conflicting signals and a lack of official confirmation.
Media Reports Spark Controversy
The story first gained traction when several national newspapers, including Vanguard and Legit.ng, published articles claiming that Lt. Yerima was trailed by “unidentified men dressed in black and riding in unmarked Hilux vans.” According to these reports, attributed to unnamed “military sources,” the officer noticed the suspicious vehicles following him and successfully evaded the alleged attackers.
Other platforms such as Nairaland, Instagram, and Facebook amplified the story, often presenting it as a targeted attack linked to Yerima’s highly publicized confrontation with Minister Wike over a disputed parcel of land in Gaduwa, Abuja.
Context: The Wike–Yerima Confrontation
The alleged assassination attempt surfaces days after Yerima became the subject of national attention for challenging Wike during an enforcement operation. Media such as ThisDay, Vanguard, and Leadership widely covered the incident, with public opinion split.
Some commentators and civil groups accused the Minister of overreach.
Others, including constitutional lawyer Prof. Sebastine Hon (SAN), argued that Yerima may have acted outside his authority.
In the days that followed, the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, publicly defended Yerima, saying the officer acted on lawful orders. But neither Matawalle nor the Defence Minister confirmed any threat to Yerima’s life.
Military Silence Fuels Speculation
Despite widespread reports, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued no official confirmation of an assassination attempt.
The only military-related communication was a cryptic post on DHQ’s official X (Twitter) account that read:
“IT IS AN HONOUR TO SERVE IN THE NIGERIAN MILITARY. UNSHAKEN. UNBENT. UNBROKEN.”
The post made no mention of an attack, an investigation, or any threat to Lt. Yerima. This silence has only intensified public speculation about whether the alleged attempt actually took place.
Current Status: Unverified Claim
Based on all available findings:
The alleged assassination attempt is reported by mainstream newspapers, but
It remains unverified, as no arm of the military or government has confirmed it, and
Details rely solely on anonymous sources.
As of this report, the Defence establishment is yet to issue any formal statement confirming or denying the incident.
