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The Presidency has dismissed reports that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy came under attack by angry youths after he attended Friday prayers at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, O’tega Ogra, rejected the reports, describing videos circulating on social media as misleading and offering a different account of the President’s departure from the mosque.
The controversy followed Tinubu’s visit to the mosque on Friday, November 13, 2026, when videos shared online appeared to show some youths chanting rejection slogans and throwing stones towards a convoy believed to belong to the President.
Some individuals were heard shouting “Ba ma yi, ba ma so,” a Hausa expression meaning “We don’t want you; we don’t support you.”
The footage gained widespread attention after being shared by African Democratic Congress chieftain, Dino Melaye, who presented it as evidence of a hostile reception for the President.
However, Ogra challenged that interpretation in a post on his X account, sharing another video showing Tinubu leaving the mosque after the Juma’at prayer.
“Contrary to the narrative being pushed by the opposition, with videos of their alleged paid thugs at the National Mosque today, here is footage of Mr President leaving the mosque after Friday prayers this afternoon,” Ogra wrote.
The video shared by the presidential aide showed Tinubu dressed in a white outfit and a black cap, acknowledging people gathered around his vehicle as he departed.
The Presidency maintained that the footage contradicted claims that the President was attacked during the mosque visit.
Conflicting Accounts Of The Incident
The incident has generated competing accounts of what happened around the President’s departure from the mosque.
While the footage shared by Melaye appeared to show individuals throwing objects towards a convoy believed to be Tinubu’s, the video released by Ogra showed the President leaving amid people waving and taking photographs.
The Presidency alleged that opposition elements were promoting a misleading account of the incident.
However, the two videos have fuelled public debate over the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether the individuals seen throwing objects were targeting the presidential convoy.
There has been no independently established confirmation that Tinubu was physically struck by a stone or sustained any injury.
Tinubu Warns Against Political Violence
The controversy comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections and concerns over confrontations at political gatherings.
Earlier on Friday, Tinubu warned politicians and their supporters against violence, thuggery and activities capable of undermining democratic processes.
In a statement personally signed by him, the President directed security agencies to deal decisively with individuals involved in political violence and other anti-democratic activities.
He condemned attacks and intimidation at political gatherings, insisting that political campaigns should focus on policies, ideas and proposals capable of improving Nigerians’ welfare.
“Our campaigns should be about issues, a contestation of ideas that promote the welfare of our people and the progress of our country,” he said.
Tinubu also maintained that political differences should not turn citizens into enemies, stressing that belonging to different political parties or pursuing different political ambitions should not justify hostility.
His warning followed reports of violence at political gatherings in different parts of the country, including an attack on a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and attended by its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The latest incident has renewed attention on security concerns surrounding political activities as parties and their supporters prepare for the 2027 elections.
While the Presidency has rejected claims that Tinubu’s convoy was attacked, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the scenes captured in the competing videos.
