A Nigerian woman has come forward with a personal account of her interaction with Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer who recently gained viral attention for his confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over a land dispute in Gaduwa, Abuja.
Meeting During Navy Screening
Splendor Emmanuel revealed that she first encountered Yerima during her Nigerian Navy screening process in Borokiri, Port Harcourt, in 2024. According to her detailed account, the officer displayed remarkable professionalism and ruggedness throughout the screening exercise.
She described Yerima as a "very cracked and parkard officer" who commanded respect through his presence rather than his words. "Man of little words, but when he speaks, it carries volume," Splendor noted in her social media post about the experience.
The Endurance Running Moment
One particular incident stood out during the screening process. During the endurance running segment of the assessment, Splendor found herself running alongside the naval officer. "I was running side by side with him," she recounted, though she admitted struggling to maintain his pace at certain points.
What happened next demonstrated Yerima's character. When Splendor began to weaken during the challenging exercise, the officer reached out to support her. "He made sure to hold my hand when I was getting weak," she shared, highlighting this act of encouragement during the physically demanding test.
Commanding Respect Naturally
Splendor also observed how Yerima naturally commanded respect among the screening candidates. She noted that whenever applicants became noisy on the parade ground, his mere presence would immediately silence the entire area without him needing to raise his voice or issue commands.
The businesswoman, who operates a cleaning outfit, credited Yerima as being "one of the reasons I entered first box at the screening," indicating that his professionalism and encouragement contributed to her successful performance during the selection process.
Following Yerima's viral confrontation with Minister Wike, Splendor expressed her support for the officer, stating: "Thank you, sir for showing the world that Military is not Ministry. Keep representing, sir!"
Her personal account provides new insight into the character of the naval officer who has captured national attention, revealing aspects of his professionalism and leadership style that weren't visible in the viral video that made him famous.
