The Presidency has dismissed as false a viral social media report alleging that a chef at the Presidential Villa was arrested over an alleged attempt to poison President Bola Tinubu.
The rumour, which gained traction across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and WhatsApp, was fueled by a video claiming that security operatives apprehended a member of the Aso Rock kitchen staff following intelligence reports of suspicious food-related activities within restricted areas of the Villa. The clip quickly generated widespread reactions, with some Nigerians expressing concern over the President’s safety.
Responding to the claims, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, categorically denied the allegation. In a post shared on his verified X account, he stated: “No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video.”
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, described the report as completely unfounded. According to him, “The trending video about a poison attempt on President Tinubu and arrest of an Aso Villa cook is fake and totally unfounded. There is no truth to it. It should be disregarded.”
Security agencies have not announced any arrest or investigation connected to the alleged plot, and there has been no official confirmation of any security breach at the Presidential Villa.
Sources within the Presidency confirmed that President Bola Tinubu remains safe and continues to carry out his official engagements without disruption.
Authorities have once again cautioned the public against spreading unverified information capable of causing panic or eroding confidence in state institutions. The latest incident adds to growing concerns over the spread of misinformation on digital platforms in Nigeria.
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