Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has categorically denied reports circulating on social media that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer involved in a recent confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed parcel of land in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku described the viral claim as “entirely fabricated and baseless.” The statement, shared via Atiku’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, urged the public to disregard the misinformation being peddled online.
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not give Lt. Ahmed Yerima — or any other individual — a brand-new Toyota SUV, contrary to the false reports currently circulating on social media,” Ibe stated. “The story is entirely concocted and should be completely disregarded by the public.”
The false report, which gained traction on Facebook on Wednesday, alleged that Atiku rewarded the naval officer following his heated exchange with Minister Wike during an inspection of a disputed land site in the Gaduwa District of the Federal Capital Territory. A video of the incident, which surfaced online, showed Lt. Yerima asserting that the land in question belonged to the Nigerian Navy.
Atiku’s camp emphasized that the former Vice President has no involvement in the matter and warned against the spread of misinformation aimed at politicizing the incident or creating unnecessary tension.
This clarification comes amid heightened public interest in the land dispute and the roles played by both the FCT Minister and the Nigerian Navy. The Nigerian public is urged to rely on verified sources and official statements to avoid being misled by viral but unsubstantiated claims.