THE Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed reports claiming that a Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja, describing the circulating story as false, misleading, and capable of inciting public panic.
News Point Nigeria reports that the claims, which spread widely across blogs and social media platforms over the weekend, alleged that Yerima was pursued by two unmarked black Hilux vans without number plates on Saturday evening.
According to the unverified reports, the purported chase began around 6:30pm near the NIPCO filling station along the Kubwa Expressway and continued through Gado Nasco Way in Kubwa. Yerima was said to have escaped the alleged assailants after executing what was described as a “strategic manoeuvre.”
Online speculation quickly connected the alleged incident to Yerima’s recent confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed land allocation in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
The confrontation, captured in viral videos, showed the naval officer blocking officials from the FCT Administration from accessing the site, a property said to be owned by a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd).
However, in a statement released early on Monday, the FCT Police Command faulted the reports entirely, insisting that no incident of that nature was ever reported to law enforcement authorities or recorded anywhere 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’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said in the statement.
“The Command wishes to categorically state that no such incident has been reported or recorded anywhere within the Federal Capital Territory. The public is advised to disregard this false information and desist from spreading unverified claims capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
Adeh urged residents to remain security-conscious and immediately report suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police station.
The alleged assassination attempt gained attention largely because of Yerima’s widely publicized clash with the FCT Minister on November 11. During the incident, Wike accused Gambo of illegal development on the disputed land and berated Yerima for allegedly obstructing FCDA officials and assaulting personnel deployed to halt construction.
The encounter triggered nationwide debate, with some analysts insisting the minister was performing his statutory duties, while others condemned his verbal attack on the uniformed officer. A number of retired military officers also expressed solidarity with Yerima, insisting that he was carrying out lawful instructions.
In a separate comment, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, affirmed that no military personnel acting within the law would be punished, adding that the armed forces remain committed to protecting the integrity of their officers on legitimate assignment.
