The Presidency on Sunday dismissed as false a viral social media report alleging that a member of the kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was arrested over a purported plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, refuted the claim in a post on his verified X handle, describing the video circulating online as fake and misleading.
The footage, which appeared to show scenes from the Presidential Villa, claimed that a chef working within the presidential complex had been apprehended following intelligence reports of suspicious activities linked to food preparation in restricted areas associated with presidential operations.
According to the narrator in the video, the alleged arrest was said to have prompted swift intervention by a special police squad and heightened security measures within the presidential environment.
The report further suggested that the suspect had been taken into custody for questioning as part of a coordinated investigation by specialised security personnel.
However, the Presidency categorically denied the claims.
“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.
The Presidency did not provide details on the origin of the video or those responsible for its circulation but urged the public to disregard the unfounded allegation.
As of press time, there has been no official report of any security breach or arrest linked to the Presidential Villa.
