Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed claims that he bought a new Toyota SUV for Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer who recently had a clash with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a post shared on his X handle on Thursday, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, said the story making the rounds on social media was false and should be ignored.
“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,” Ibe said. “The story is entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public.”
The false report, which surfaced on Facebook on Wednesday, claimed that Atiku rewarded the naval officer for standing up to Wike during a heated confrontation over a disputed land in the Gaduwa area of Abuja.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, showed Wike and Lt. Yerima exchanging words at the site. In the viral video, Yerima insisted he was protecting naval property, while Wike questioned his presence on the land.
The video sparked widespread reactions on social media, with Nigerians taking sides between the minister and the officer.
Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), and several political figures have since called for calm, urging both parties to respect institutional authority and resolve the matter peacefully.
