Setting The Records Straight On The So-Called “Assassination Attempt” On Lt. Yerima -By Kelvin Adegbenga

In the past few days, public discourse, especially on social media, has been dominated by sensational claims of an alleged “assassination attempt” on Lt. Yerima. But as more facts emerge, it has become increasingly clear that the narrative is not only exaggerated but also fundamentally misleading. It is therefore important to lay out the facts and clear the fog of misinformation.

The first narration to greet the public space, as reported by Vanguard Newspaper, cited a military source who claimed that Yerima was trailed by unidentified men dressed in black, riding in two unmarked Hilux vans with no number plates.

According to the report, the vehicles allegedly followed him from the NIPCO Filling Station off the Kubwa Expressway all the way to Gado Nasco Way. This version of events created understandable tension and drew widespread concern until the police provided verifiable details.

Shortly after, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command issued a press release signed by its PRO, SP Josephine Adeh, categorically debunking the so-called “assassination attempt”. Rather than supporting the dramatic Hilux-van-in-pursuit narrative, the police statement presented a completely different and much more credible account.

According to the police, on 16th November 2025 at about 6:15 p.m., a routine stop-and-search operation was being conducted at NNPC Junction along the Kubwa Expressway. During this operation, officers intercepted an ash-coloured Toyota Camry being driven with its number plate concealed and its windows deeply tinted. Both conditions violate road safety and security protocols.

In line with standard operating procedure, the patrol team approached the vehicle and politely requested the driver’s identity as well as an explanation for the concealments. Shockingly, the occupant, who later turned out to be Lt Yerima, refused to identify himself. Instead, he made several phone calls and wound up his tinted windows, refusing to cooperate or even engage with the officers.

A few minutes later, three naval personnel arrived at the scene. They cordially identified the occupant as their colleague while also taking videos and photos of the encounter. Once the officers confirmed his identity, the police allowed the vehicle to proceed, and the patrol team continued its operations peacefully, without any further incident.

Interestingly, the second version of events circulating online, through a video shared by Yerima’s colleagues, completely contradicts the original Hilux-van narrative that was initially pushed into the media.

In the video, the only vehicle present was the ash-coloured Camry with a covered plate number and deeply tinted windows, exactly as described by the police. No men dressed in black. No unmarked Hilux vans. No chase. No threat. No “assassination”.

From the combined accounts of the police and the video evidence, it is crystal clear that the entire story of an “assassination attempt” was nothing more than a false alarm, one that should never have been sensationalised in the first place.

Frankly, I believe the military hierarchy should caution Lt Yerima for this unnecessary escalation. When uniformed personnel raise false alarms, especially ones capable of causing public panic or tarnishing the image of another security agency, it sets a dangerous precedent. It encourages others to manufacture threats or interpret lawful police procedures as personal attacks.

Security agencies must work together, not against one another. Cooperation, professionalism, and mutual respect are essential for national security. Sensational false alarms only create friction where none is needed.

If anything, this incident has reaffirmed the professionalism of the FCT Police Command in handling a situation that could easily have been escalated by unnecessary drama. The facts speak for themselves: there was never an assassination attempt on Lt Yerima, only a lawful stop-and-search exercise that he decided to misinterpret.

It’s time we stop glorifying misinformation and start holding individuals accountable for narratives that endanger the public peace and undermine inter-agency trust.

Kelvin Adegbenga writes from Kubwa, Abuja. kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com @kelvinadegbenga