₦airaland Forum

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has dismissed reports that a Nigerian Navy officer, Lt. Ahmed Yerima, survived an assassination attempt in Abuja, describing the claims as false and unverified.

The denial comes after news outlets (PUNCH not inclusive) and social media posts circulated that Yerima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black, travelling in two unmarked Hilux vans without number plates in Abuja.

According to the reports, the pursuit began around 6:30 p.m. at the NIPCO filling station along the Kubwa Expressway and continued to Gado Nasco Way.

Yerima reportedly evaded the assailants through a “strategic manoeuvre” during a high-speed chase.

The reports ignited speculation linking the alleged incident to the officer’s recent confrontation with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over a disputed land allocation in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Sunday night, the command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, described the claim as entirely false, noting that no such incident was reported 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 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,” the statement read.

The PPRO urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police division.

PUNCH Online had reported that Yerima clashed with Wike on November 11 over a disputed plot in Gaduwa District, said to belong to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo (retd).

Viral videos showed Yerima, while on security detail, blocking Wike’s team from accessing the site.

The minister accused the retired military chief of carrying out illegal development on the land and confronted Yerima for allegedly assaulting personnel of the Federal Capital Development Authority, who had gone to halt the ongoing construction.

The minister was heard berating the officer, calling him a “fool” and questioning his authority.

The confrontation escalated into a public debate on who was in the right.

While some argued that the minister was fulfilling his constitutional duty and said Yerima breached the law, military veterans rallied behind the officer, rejecting any calls for his discipline and demanding an apology from Wike.

In a separate assurance, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, affirmed that no lawful military personnel would face sanctions.

“We will always protect officers on lawful duty,” he said during a briefing for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

AMINDA:
Well, the police should rather say no such incident was "reported" to them instead. The military will not file a complaint before the police. Vanguard was clear that military sources gave them the info. There was also an usual movement of military personnel along that axis yesterday.

Richtaiwo:
Police don't just sit down in offices waiting for reports. They go to incident scenes for preliminary investigation especially when it involves incidents of national interest.

So don't just sit down somewhere and be telling the police how their report ought to have been because the report is distasteful to your ears.

AMINDA:
Is this the police under your Tinubu you are talking about or your fantasy of how the ideal police operates?

Sonnobax15:

No sensible person would even believe such news in the first place,let believing Wike would be primary suspect should it even happens...

Richtaiwo:
Pick the contrary report and laminate it, hang it in your living room. Reason: it is the police under my Tinubu. As far as any official report is concerned today, there is no case of assassination attempt. Bye.

Richtaiwo:
Someone just right above your comment said the police is lying because the police is under Tinubu.

AMINDA:
This one was reported by Amnesty International yesterday though. By your logic, it didn't happen because the police are not aware of it and no conventional news media is reporting on it.

https://www.nairaland.com/8562953/amnesty-international-gunmen-abduct-12

AMINDA:
Well, the police should rather say no such incident was "reported" to them instead. [b]The military will not file a complaint before the police. [/b]Vanguard was clear that military sources gave them the info. There was also an usual movement of military personnel along that axis yesterday. This was all avoidable.

Richtaiwo:
Incoherent.

If the police is silent on some reports, that's there own and I can't hold brief for them.

But at least they have given a report on the assassination attempt. You are free to take or reject it. But officially, no such thing as assassination attempt on Leut Yerima.

Richtaiwo:
Police don't just sit down in offices waiting for reports. They go to incident scenes for preliminary investigation especially when it involves incidents of national interest.

So don't just sit down somewhere and be telling the police how their report ought to have been because the report is distasteful to your ears. As it stands now, there was no case of assassination attempt. You are free to start going around with the contrary report.

AMINDA:
Shape shifting? There's a huge difference between "no such incident was reported to us" and "no such incident happened" but go on.

Sonnobax15:

No sensible person would even believe such news in the first place,let alone believing Wike would be the primary suspect should it even happens...

chidiokay:
Alol ! and you know that how ?? Let me correct you, the Police denounce the news on Basis of " No report was made" not that they visited the scene nd it turn out to be false .. there claim is no Report

Base on my personal experience, the Ng police must be crazzzzy ! i waa robbed in a traffic at night, gun point ... i didnt report to police so according to Police mentality my experience is a lie ... i knew going to the police was a waste of time, they will extort me more adding to my loss

If it was a car chase, which place police wan pick to start the investigation sef, i was robbed in my car, people were passing they didnt even know. a 3 star officier will never walk into a police station to report anything .. sey you dey whyne

Brenbentondiaz:
What do you mean by @bolded? The kind of illegality that Nigerians celebrate (while fooooooling themselves that they want a better country). Except for the case of a state of emergency, the police is superior to the military in every sane country. If any of such happened, the military must file a report with the police.

Brenbentondiaz:
What do you mean by @bolded? The kind of illegality that Nigerians celebrate (while fooooooling themselves that they want a better country). Except for the case of a state of emergency, the police is superior to the military in every sane country. If any of such happened, the military must file a report with the police.

Richtaiwo:
In cases of national interest, police do visit incident scenes. So stop using some isolated and under reported cases as justification. This is how jubrin was used to replace Buhari.

AMINDA:
Okay Einstein. Why then is the military leading the investigation on the alleged coup? Shouldn't Tinubu have reported the matter to the police for proper investigation?

Sonnobax15:

No sensible person would even believe such news in the first place,let alone believing Wike would be the primary suspect should it even happens...

Brenbentondiaz:
What do you mean by @bolded? The kind of illegality that Nigerians celebrate (while fooooooling themselves that they want a better country). Except for the case of a state of emergency, the police is superior to the military in every sane country. If any of such happened, the military must file a report with the police.

FarahAideed:
Well protection should be increased around the boy ...if anyone wants Wike or Tinubu out of office all they have to do is to kill the boy and that will be the end of Wike politically and even the end of Tinubu govt .... Mischievous politicians can take advantage of this so I advise Tinubu to send the boy on immediate Course at some Naval school in Turkey or Russia , let him cool off there till 2027

FarahAideed:
Well protection should be increased around the boy ...if anyone wants Wike or Tinubu out of office all they have to do is to kill the boy and that will be the end of Wike politically and even the end of Tinubu govt .... Mischievous politicians can take advantage of this so I advise Tinubu to send the boy on immediate Course at some Naval school in Turkey or Russia , let him cool off there till 2027

AMINDA:
Is this the police under your Tinubu you are talking about or your fantasy of how the ideal police operates? We can now understand why so much resources are being invested on denials and news suppression. "If it wasn't reported, then it didn't happen".