DHQ post honour to serve Nigerian military after Wike clash
The Defence Headquarters Nigeria (DHQ) issued a brief post on its official social media account hours after the widely-publicised confrontation between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and military personnel at a disputed land site in Abuja. The post read: “It is an honour to serve in the Nigerian Military Unshaken. Unbent. Unbroken.”
Observers quickly connected the timing of the message with the altercation on November 11, 2025, during which soldiers reportedly prevented ministerial officials from accessing a parcel of land in the Gaduwa District. The face-off, captured in video and widely circulated, showed the minister and his team blocked by uniformed military personnel.
The post from DHQ emphasises the resolve and esprit de corps of Nigeria’s armed forces at a moment of heightened public scrutiny. By reasserting the motto “Unshaken. Unbent. Unbroken,” the message appears to reinforce the military’s institutional dignity and may be interpreted as a subtle response to perceived disrespect or challenge from civilian officials.
Reactions on social media were immediate. Many Nigerians suggested that the DHQ message was not coincidental, but a direct counter to the minister’s conduct. One user wrote: “The Nigerian Armed Forces don send message loud and clear: ‘Unshaken. Unbent. Unbroken.’” Others interpreted the statement as an assertion that the military will not tolerate being publicly undermined or challenged without consequence.
The context of the confrontation is also significant. Wike had argued that his officials from the FCT Department of Development Control were barred from entering the land site by soldiers acting on orders linked to a retired naval chief. He complained that “I don’t understand how somebody who once occupied such a high position cannot approach my office … but simply uses soldiers to intimidate Nigerians.”
Civil society groups and retired military officials have weighed in, noting that the incident raises broader concerns about civil-military relations, rule of law, and the institutional boundaries between civilian authorities and the armed forces.
For the military institution, the DHQ post may serve multiple functions: it reaffirms internal unity and discipline, signals resolve to the wider public, and implicitly places on notice those who might seek to challenge or politicise military presence and authority. On the civilian side, the incident and the subsequent message underscore the need for clear channels of communication, respect for roles, and adherence to proper process in engagements involving security personnel and government officials.
As matters stand, no formal clarification or apology has been issued by the FCT minister in response to either the video-recorded verbal confrontation or the DHQ post. The situation continues to attract commentary, and any further official statement from the DHQ or FCT Administration may shape how this episode influences the perception of civilian-military relations in Nigeria.
