O’tega Ogra, a presidential aide, has disputed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s convoy was attacked with stones by youths during his visit to the Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Abuja, on Friday.
Tinubu had visited the mosque for the Juma’at prayer when a video showing youths throwing stones at the convoy began circulating on social media.
The video was shared by Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Some of the youths could be heard chanting “Ba ma yi, ba ma so”, a Hausa expression meaning “we don’t want you; we don’t support you”.
However, Ogra, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, released another video showing Tinubu leaving the mosque, insisting that the footage contradicted the claims circulating online.
“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.
In the footage, Tinubu, dressed in white and wearing a black cap, is seen waving at youths who cheered him and took pictures with their phones as he walked towards his official vehicle.
The conflicting videos have sparked questions over what happened during the President’s visit, with Ogra maintaining that the footage he shared presents a different account of the incident.
The development comes hours after Tinubu warned politicians and their supporters against violence ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement personally signed on Friday, the President said security agencies had been authorised to deal firmly with thuggery and other anti-democratic activities.
He condemned reported incidents of violence at political gatherings across the country, urging political parties and their supporters to focus on issues that affect Nigerians rather than resort to intimidation and violence.
Tinubu maintained that violence had no place in political campaigns.