Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, has officially dismissed a viral rumor claiming that kitchen staff at Aso Rock were arrested following an attempt to poison President Bola Tinubu. The Presidency’s response comes as a direct effort to shut down a wave of misinformation that began circulating rapidly over the weekend.
The rumors gained significant momentum on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X on Sunday, March 1, largely driven by a 90-second video that has since gone viral. The footage, which appears to be a montage of unrelated clips, shows various scenes ranging from kitchen preparations to government vehicles arriving at official buildings. Overlaid on these images is a voiceover narrating a dramatic, yet entirely unverified, story of a security breach within the presidential villa.
Despite having no factual basis, the video amassed thousands of views within hours. Several social media posts further amplified the claims, suggesting that a “presidential chef” had been detained by security operatives. These allegations sparked widespread concern and speculation before the government stepped in to clarify the situation.
In a statement released through his official X account and monitored by Reports, Onanuga described the entire report as a complete fabrication. He was emphatic in his denial, urging Nigerians to be wary of the source of such videos and to stop the spread of the false narrative.
The presidential spokesperson stated clearly that no Aso Rock kitchen staff has been arrested, nor was there any attempt to poison the President. He characterized the video as a piece of fake news designed to mislead the public and advised everyone to simply ignore the baseless claims.
This development highlights the growing challenge of digital misinformation, as the Presidency continues to monitor and debunk sensationalist content aimed at causing panic.
