The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has refuted claims that a Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. Ahmed Yerima, escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja, describing the reports as false, misleading, and lacking any official record.
The denial follows widespread social media posts and online reports alleging that the officer was trailed by unidentified men clad in black and moving in two unmarked Hilux vehicles without number plates.
According to the circulating accounts, the supposed chase began around 6:30 p.m. at the NIPCO filling station along the Kubwa Expressway and continued through Gado Nasco Way, with Yerima said to have escaped through a “strategic manoeuvre.”
The unverified reports fueled speculation that the alleged incident might be connected to Yerima’s recent confrontation with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed land parcel in Abuja.
However, in a statement issued late Sunday, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, dismissed the claims outright.
“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 said.
She urged the public to disregard the misinformation and refrain from spreading unverified reports capable of inducing fear or tension.
Adeh also encouraged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to any nearby police formation.
Hobnob News earlier reported that Yerima and Minister Wike clashed on November 11 over a disputed plot in the Gaduwa District, reportedly allocated to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd).
Viral footage showed Yerima, who was on security duty, preventing the minister’s team from accessing the property. Wike accused the retired military chief of illegal development and confronted Yerima for allegedly obstructing officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority who attempted to halt construction on the site.
The exchange triggered widespread public debate, with opinions divided between those backing the minister’s enforcement role and military veterans who defended the naval officer and demanded an apology from Wike.
Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Mohammed Abubakar has assured that no military personnel acting within the law will face sanctions, stating, “We will always protect officers on lawful duty,” during a briefing ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
