Atiku reacts to reports of him gifting Toyota SUV to Naval Officer who confronted Wike
Atiku reacts to reports of him gifting Toyota SUV to Naval Officer who confronted Wike
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed viral claims that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer who confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over a contested plot of land in Abuja.
In a statement released on Thursday via his X account, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, described the reports as “entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public.”
He added: “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.”
The false narrative, which first appeared on Facebook on Wednesday, claimed that Atiku had rewarded Yerima for confronting Wike.
The incident in question occurred in Gaduwa District, Abuja, where Wike clashed with Yerima and a team of naval personnel allegedly guarding a property linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.)
A video circulating online showed Wike accusing the retired naval chief of unlawfully occupying the land, sparking widespread discussion about protocol, authority, and civility among government officials.
