BREAKING NEWS: FCT Police Debunks Alleged Assassination Attempt on Naval Officer Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, Describes Report as Tension-Inducing Rumour

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has firmly dismissed the widespread reports alleging that a Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja. The command, in its reaction, condemned the narrative as unfounded, misleading, and capable of heightening tension among residents of the nation’s capital.

The rumour, which circulated swiftly across various online news platforms and social media spaces (excluding The PUNCH), alleged that Lieutenant Yerima was trailed by unknown assailants dressed in black and riding in two unmarked Hilux vehicles without number plates.

According to the accounts, the supposed pursuit began at approximately 6:30 p.m. at the NIPCO filling station along the Kubwa Expressway and continued through Gado Nasco Way, with Yerima reportedly escaping through what was described as a “strategic manoeuvre.”

The claims immediately sparked widespread public curiosity and anxiety, especially as many Nigerians linked the alleged threat to Lt. Yerima’s recent confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over a controversial land allocation dispute in Gaduwa District.

However, in a statement made available to the media on Sunday night, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, debunked the report and clarified that there was no record or report of such an attack within the FCT.

“The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to publications circulating on social media alleging an attempted assassination on Lt. Ahmed Yerima.

“The command wishes to categorically state that no such incident has been reported or recorded anywhere within the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement read.

SP Adeh went on to caution residents against spreading unverified information capable of provoking fear and unnecessary panic. She urged members of the public to remain vigilant, prioritise factual information, and promptly report any suspicious movement or activity to the nearest police formation for immediate action.

Lt. Yerima has remained a focal point of national conversation since November 11, when videos surfaced showing him barricading the convoy of Minister Wike from entering a contested property reportedly belonging to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd).

The viral footage depicted a heated confrontation in which Wike accused the former naval chief of initiating unlawful construction on the disputed land and verbally attacked the naval officer present, calling him a “fool” while questioning his authority at the location.

The incident drew strong nationwide reactions, with many Nigerians faulting the minister’s choice of words and commending the officer’s composure and alleged defence of due process.

As the controversy continues to dominate public discourse, the FCT Police Command has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety, upholding peace, and preventing misinformation that may threaten public confidence in security institutions.