Report on social media had claimed that an incident within the presidential environment led to the intervention of a special police squad and triggered heightened security measures at the Presidential Villa...

Nigeria’s presidency on Sunday dismissed as false a viral social media report alleging that a presidential chef was arrested over a purported plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A video circulating online had claimed that an incident within the Presidential Villa prompted the intervention of a special police squad and heightened security measures.

The narrator in the footage, citing unnamed security sources, alleged that intelligence alerts pointed to suspicious activities linked to food preparation procedures within restricted areas connected to presidential operations.

The video further claimed authorities acted on what were described as credible reports of a possible threat to the president’s safety, triggering a coordinated investigation by specialised security personnel tasked with protecting the nation’s leadership.

It also said a member of the kitchen staff attached to presidential services was taken into custody for questioning, adding that officials handled the matter discreetly to avoid public panic while investigations continued.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga 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,” he said.

The presidency said there was no incident involving any kitchen staff member within the Presidential Villa and no arrest linked to an alleged poisoning attempt.