The Presidency on Sunday dismissed as false a viral video alleging that a chef attached to the Presidential Villa was arrested over a purported plot to poison Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The video, which circulated widely on social media over the weekend, claimed that heightened security measures were triggered within the Presidential Villa following intelligence reports of suspicious activities linked to food preparation in restricted areas.
According to the narrator, a special police squad was said to have intervened swiftly after receiving what were described as credible alerts suggesting a possible threat to the President’s safety.
The footage further alleged that a member of the kitchen staff was taken into custody for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation into an attempted poisoning.
However, the Presidency described the claims as fabricated and urged Nigerians to disregard the report.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, categorically denied that any such incident occurred at the Presidential Villa.
“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,” Onanuga stated.
He stressed that there was no security breach or arrest involving any kitchen staff within the Presidential Villa and described the video as a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.
The Presidency did not indicate any ongoing probe, maintaining that the allegations were entirely baseless.
The viral claim had suggested that security agencies acted discreetly to prevent public panic while ensuring that potential risks were neutralised.
It also alleged that investigations were being conducted by specialised personnel responsible for the protection of the nation’s leadership.
But officials insisted that no such development took place at the Villa.
The Presidency urged members of the public to verify information from credible sources before sharing, warning that the spread of false reports could undermine national security and public confidence.
The latest denial comes amid heightened scrutiny of online content and growing concerns over the circulation of unverified security-related claims on social media platforms.
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