KEY POINTS

• Presidency says viral poisoning claim against tinubu is false

• Aides confirm no arrest or incident occurred at the presidential villa

• Government warns against spreading unverified information online

The Presidency has dismissed as false a viral report claiming that a kitchen staff member at the presidential residence attempted to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Officials described the story as fabricated and urged Nigerians to ignore the circulating video that fueled the rumor.

The denial followed widespread online speculation suggesting that a chef working inside the presidential villa had been arrested in connection with an alleged poisoning attempt. The report spread rapidly across social media platforms despite lacking credible sources or verifiable evidence.

In a public response posted on his verified social media account, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga stated clearly that no such incident occurred and that no staff member of the State House kitchen had been detained. He stressed that the information being shared online was entirely false and misleading.

Another presidential media aide, Tope Ajayi, also dismissed the allegation when contacted by journalists, giving a brief but firm response that the claim was fake.

No security confirmation of incident

As of the time the clarification was issued, there had been no confirmation from any security or law enforcement agency of an arrest, investigation, or breach at the presidential residence, Aso Rock. Officials noted that no internal security alerts or emergency actions had been recorded that would support the viral claim.

The swift rebuttal from the Presidency appeared aimed at stopping the spread of misinformation and calming public concern generated by the widely circulated video and accompanying posts.

Authorities reiterated warnings about the dangers of sharing unverified reports, emphasizing that false information can create unnecessary panic, damage reputations, and weaken public trust in institutions. They urged citizens to confirm the authenticity of sensitive claims before reposting them online.

The Presidency maintained that the allegation was baseless and encouraged the public to rely only on verified information from official sources.