A young Nigerian soldier has been widely praised on social media after footage of him standing his ground against a powerful government minister went viral.
The soldier, identified as Lt AM Yerima, was part of a unit that prevented Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike from accessing a disputed plot of land in Abuja on Tuesday.
In the video, which has been viewed millions of times, the minister is seen becoming increasingly agitated as Lt Yerima, citing orders from his superiors, calmly refuses him entry.
Many social media users have hailed the soldier's demeanour, describing him as "courageous" and "brave", with some using his photo on their WhatsApp statuses.
The confrontation was particularly striking to many Nigerians because Wike, a former governor of the oil-rich Rivers State, is considered one of the most influential figures in President Bola Tinubu's administration.
