Lieutenant Yerima Survives Night-Time Assassination Claims — But Police Deny Incident.

A dramatic narrative has emerged suggesting that Lieutenant A M Yerima of the Nigerian Navy evaded an assassination attempt in Abuja on Sunday evening, with reports claiming he was tailed by two unmarked vans filled with men dressed in black. Witnesses and military sources alleged that the officer executed a swift maneuver that allowed him to break away before the suspected assailants could strike. However, the FCT Police Command has publicly dismissed the account. In a statement making headlines in the late hours of Sunday, police authorities said there was no record of any assassination attempt involving the officer, describing the circulating reports as false and cautioning the public against spreading unverified information. The tension surrounding the claims is heightened by Yerima’s recent clash with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, during a controversial land enforcement operation in Gaduwa. The confrontation, widely shared online, drew sharp reactions and triggered calls from retired military personnel, insisting that Yerima must not face sanctions for performing his duty. Defense officials have since clarified that the naval officer acted within lawful instructions. The Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, has assured that no officer carrying out authorized operations will be abandoned. Still, some legal analysts argue that Yerima’s conduct could be interpreted as insubordination if it hindered a serving minister, and the officer may not be entirely shielded from disciplinary review should a formal complaint arise. For now, the story sits at an uneasy intersection of security, politics, and public perception. Whether the alleged plot was real or rumour, it has already exposed deep cracks in communication between security agencies and instigated a debate about power, accountability, and the internal hierarchy rifts unfolding in the nation’s capital.

| 2025-11-17 07:39:28