Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he gifted a brand-new Toyota Prado SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, a naval officer who recently confronted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The story, which went viral on various social media platforms earlier this week, alleged that Atiku rewarded Lt. Yerima for “his bravery” during an encounter with the FCT Minister. However, Atiku’s media office has strongly refuted the claim, describing it as “entirely false and fabricated.”
In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku urged the public to disregard the report, emphasizing that he neither purchased nor gifted any vehicle to the naval officer or anyone else.
“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 statement read. “The story is entirely fabricated and should be completely disregarded by the public.”
The controversy began after a viral video surfaced online showing Lt. Ahmed Yerima, a naval officer, in a heated confrontation with Minister Nyesom Wike in Abuja. The incident reportedly occurred during a visit to a disputed waterfront area in the Federal Capital Territory, where security personnel and government officials had gathered over an enforcement matter.
In the video, the naval officer could be seen attempting to explain his position to the minister, while Wike, visibly angry, ordered him to step aside. The exchange quickly drew public attention, with many Nigerians praising Yerima for his composure and professionalism in the face of the minister’s outburst.
Following the viral clip, several social media posts began circulating, claiming that Atiku Abubakar had rewarded the officer with a 2024 model Toyota Prado SUV for allegedly “standing up to Wike.” Some of the posts even included pictures of a white SUV purported to be the vehicle in question.
However, further checks by journalists and fact-checking platforms revealed that there was no evidence linking Atiku or his team to any such donation. The images shared online were found to be old or unrelated photos taken from car dealerships and previous social media posts.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, expressed concern over the growing trend of fake news and misinformation on social media, saying that such false reports are capable of misleading the public and damaging reputations.
He stated that the former Vice President remains committed to transparency and accountability in all his dealings and will not be drawn into “petty political propaganda.”
“The public should be cautious about believing stories that have no credible source or official confirmation,” Ibe said. “This kind of false report is not only misleading but also dangerous, as it seeks to drag innocent individuals into needless controversy.”
He urged media practitioners and social media users to verify information before sharing it, warning that spreading false news could have legal consequences.
The viral story sparked a wave of reactions across social media platforms, with many Nigerians initially divided over its authenticity. Some users had commended Atiku for what they thought was an act of solidarity, while others doubted the claim, pointing out that no official source had confirmed it.
Atiku, who was the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, remains one of the most prominent figures in Nigerian politics. His name frequently appears in online discussions—both supportive and critical especially on issues relating to governance, opposition politics, and national unity.
The viral story linking him to the alleged car gift appears to be another example of how political figures often become targets of unverified claims and propaganda in the digital space.
In 2022, for instance, the Federal Government launched campaigns against fake news and cyber propaganda, encouraging Nigerians to rely on verified sources of information. Despite these efforts, false stories still spread rapidly across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, where many users share content without fact-checking.
