Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed as false the viral claims that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer recently involved in an altercation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a statement released on Thursday through Atiku’s verified X handle, his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, described the circulating reports as “entirely fabricated” and lacking any factual foundation. He urged members of the public to disregard what he called a “baseless social media rumour.”
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not gift Lt. Ahmed Yerima, or any other individual, a brand-new Toyota SUV, contrary to the false reports currently circulating on social media,” Ibe said. “The story is completely untrue and should be ignored in its entirety.”
The claim, which first surfaced on Facebook on Wednesday, alleged that Atiku had rewarded the naval officer for confronting Minister Wike during a reported land dispute in Abuja. The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday at a contentious site in the Gaduwa District of the FCT.
A video of the confrontation, widely shared online, showed Minister Wike engaged in a tense exchange with Lt. Yerima, who insisted he was safeguarding property belonging to the Nigerian Navy. The footage quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate across social media platforms and prompting commentary from political figures and retired military officers.
The altercation has drawn reactions from several quarters, including a former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai (rtd), who called for restraint and urged both civil and military authorities to handle the situation with respect for institutional boundaries.
Atiku’s camp has now moved to distance the former Vice President from the controversy, describing the viral claim as a deliberate attempt to drag him into a matter in which he has no involvement.
“We strongly advise Nigerians to verify information before sharing and to resist the spread of fake news designed to mislead the public,” Ibe added.
