Group Demands Probe into Alleged Assassination Attempt on Lt Yerima Amid Growing Political Tensions Around FCT Minister Wike

A civic group, the Renewed Hope Movement of Nigeria, is urging the Federal Government to launch a thorough and impartial investigation into an alleged assassination attempt on Lieutenant A. M. Yerima — an incident already fuelling political intrigue and suspicion in Abuja’s power circles.

The officer was reportedly involved in a recent confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Shortly afterwards, news of the alleged attempt on his life surfaced, triggering widespread speculation about a political motive.

Ambassador Yusuf Kanhu, the group’s national coordinator, said the timing of the incident cannot be separated from what he described as an increasingly heated political atmosphere.

“This sudden twist must not be divorced from the larger political climate currently unfolding in the country,” he said in a statement in Kaduna.

Kanhu accused some northern political actors of intensifying a push against Wike’s continued stay in office, insisting that events surrounding the alleged attack align with what he believes may be a coordinated effort to undermine the minister.

He pointed to longstanding resistance to Wike’s appointment at the start of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying critics attempted to portray leadership of the FCT as the birthright of a specific region or religious group — a narrative he condemned as divisive.

Tensions reportedly escalated further after Wike engaged with the Israeli government on securing a location for its embassy in Abuja, a move Kanhu said some interest groups exploited to stoke hostility.

According to him, the minister’s reforms — including improved urban management, infrastructure upgrades, and a drive to restore order in the capital — have unsettled entrenched interests.

“Yet the effort to push him out of office has grown more aggressive, echoing a long-standing resistance to change. No region or group has a birthright claim to the leadership of the FCT,” he said.

Kanhu cautioned against linking the alleged attack on Lt Yerima to the minister without evidence, warning that “media frenzy and orchestrated calls for Wike’s removal” suggest deeper political manoeuvres.

He also referenced what he called the “controversial removal” of a former Chief of Defence Staff, alleging that recent developments point to a pattern targeting “southern Christian figures” in sensitive government positions.

The group urged President Tinubu to act decisively to prevent political instability, warning that unchecked perceptions could damage Nigeria’s international standing — especially after recent remarks about the country by former US President Donald Trump.

“If these perceptions grow unchecked, the Tinubu administration may face the same elite sabotage and political gang-up that derailed former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government,” the statement warned.