A swirling tale of an alleged assassination attempt on Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer recently embroiled in a public spat with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been firmly dismissed by the police as a complete fabrication, plunging the episode into fresh controversy.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has broken its silence, categorically denying reports that Lt. Yerima was targeted by assailants in unmarked vehicles in a dramatic high-speed chase through the streets of Abuja.
The now-debunked story had spread like wildfire across various online platforms and social media, alleging that just days after his televised confrontation with the minister, Lt. Yerima was trailed by unidentified men in two unmarked Hilux vans. The purported incident was said to have occurred around the Kubwa Expressway, with the officer reportedly evading his pursuers through what was described as a “strategic manoeuvre.”
These unverified reports immediately fuelled public speculation, creating a direct and sinister link to the officer’s heated argument with Wike over a disputed land allocation in the Gaduwa District.
However, in a definitive statement issued on Sunday night, the police authority labelled the entire narrative as false. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, stated that no such incident was reported or recorded anywhere within the nation’s capital.
“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 statement read. “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.”
SP Adeh further urged citizens to remain vigilant and channel any genuine security concerns through official police channels.
The police denial arrives as the fallout from the original confrontation continues to reverberate. The clash, captured in viral videos, showed Lt. Yerima, who was on a security detail, blocking the minister’s convoy from accessing a construction site. The land is reportedly allocated to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd.).
During the heated exchange, Minister Wike accused the retired military chief of illegal development and confronted Yerima for allegedly assaulting officials from the Federal Capital Development Authority.
The minister’s choice of words, including berating the officer and calling him a “fool,” sparked a national debate, dividing public opinion. While some defended the minister’s actions as a firm stance against impunity, military veterans and others rallied behind the junior officer, rejecting calls for his sanction.
Amidst this tension, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, offered a separate assurance, seemingly aimed at calming nerves within the armed forces. He affirmed that no military personnel engaged in lawful duty would face punishment.
“We will always protect officers on lawful duty,” Abubakar stated during a briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
