By Charles Pemu 
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly denied circulating reports that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer involved in a recent public confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued via his X handle on Thursday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, dismissed the widely shared claim as “completely false and without any factual basis.”
“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar… 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,” Ibe stated, urging the public to disregard the fabricated story.
The viral claim, which originated on Facebook, alleged that Atiku rewarded the naval officer following his reported clash with Minister Wike on Tuesday over an alleged land-grabbing incident in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. The confrontation, captured on video, showed the naval officer maintaining that he was protecting naval property.
The incident has since triggered widespread reactions, with public figures like former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), calling for restraint and respect for institutional authority.