President Bola Tinubu has vehemently dismissed widespread reports alleging the arrest of a kitchen staff member at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa for attempting to poison him.

These claims, circulating primarily through a viral video across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, whichwere firmly refuted by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, March 1.

The circulating video which was shared by Onanuga,has it featured a voiceover narrating a supposed security breach involving the Presidential Chef. The narrator claimed:

"Today we examine reports surrounding the shocking arrest of a presidential chef over an alleged plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an incident that has prompted swift intervention by a special police squad and triggered heightened security measures within the presidential environment.

According to preliminary information from security sources, the arrest followed intelligence alerts suggesting suspicious activities connected to food preparation procedures within restricted areas linked to presidential operations.

Authorities moved quickly after receiving credible reports that indicated a possible threat to the safety of the president, leading to a coordinated investigation involving specialised security personnel tasked with protecting national leadership.

Officials emphasized that the operation was carried out professionally and discreetly to avoid public panic while ensuring that all potential risks were neutralised.

The suspect, identified as a member of kitchen staff attached to presidential services, was reportedly taken into custody for questioning as investigators began examining evidence and verifying claims connected to the alleged poisoning attempt.

Security agencies have urged the public to remain calm, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing and that allegations do not automatically imply guilt until due process."

Responding directly and unequivocally to these allegations, Onanuga described the report as "fake news."

In a terse post on his X account, he explicitly stated, “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.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, further corroborated this dismissal in response to an enquiry, simply stating, “Fake.”

The misleading video, which gained significant traction and amassed thousands of views, was described as a 90-second montage of unrelated scenes, including kitchen preparations, meetings with individuals in traditional attire, and vehicles arriving at a government building.

This footage was used to amplify the unverified allegations, including claims of a "presidential chef" being detained.

Officials stressed the importance of relying on official communication channels for verified information and warned against the dissemination of unsubstantiated reports that could cause public panic.

This clarification from the Presidency comes months after earlier, separate reports concerning the alleged arrest of some military personnel over a purported plan to topple the government, an incident distinct from the current viral claims regarding the presidential kitchen staff.