SOME Nigerians on Friday chanted “Ba ma so” and “Ba ma yi”, meaning “we do not want you”, and threw stones at President Bola Tinubu’s convoy after he attended Juma’at prayers in Abuja.
The incident occurred shortly after Tinubu attended Juma’at prayers at the Shagari Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, on November 13.
Videos circulating on social media (here, here, here, and here), showed groups of angry youths chanting the Hausa expressions of rejection as vehicles in the convoy attempted to leave the mosque.
Some of the people in the videos were seen shouting “Ba ma so” and “Ba ma yi” while throwing stones at the vehicles and security operatives from behind an iron barrier.
Security operatives accompanying the convoy were also seen drawing their weapons as the situation became tense.
In another video, some youths were seen destroying posters bearing the insignia of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, while expressing opposition to Tinubu.
One of the videos showed what appeared to be the president’s official vehicle, identifiable by two flags mounted on it, being escorted by security operatives as it made its way out of the area.
However, The ICIR could not independently establish whether Tinubu was inside the vehicle targeted by the stone-throwing or determine the exact sequence of events depicted in the different videos.
The videos also did not establish whether the incident resulted in injuries, arrests or damage to vehicles.
Presidential aide disputes accounts of incident
Following the circulation of the videos showing the hostile reception, the President’s Senior Adviser on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, released a 14-second video showing Tinubu greeting some worshippers after the Friday prayers.
The aide shared the footage to counter what he described as a misleading narrative being promoted by opposition supporters about the president’s visit to the mosque.
“Contrary to the narrative being pushed by the opposition, with videos of their alleged paid thugs at the Central Mosque today, here is footage of Mr. President leaving the mosque after Friday prayers this afternoon,” the aide said.
The footage showed Tinubu greeting a section of the worshippers, but The ICIR could not independently establish whether it was recorded as the president arrived at or departed from the mosque.
Tinubu directs security agencies to use ‘full force’ against thuggery ahead of 2027 elections
However, later that evening, Tinubu issued a statement condemning violence at political events and urging political leaders and their supporters to avoid actions capable of undermining peaceful political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The president said political campaigns should focus on competing ideas and policies that improve the lives of Nigerians.
“Violence should never have a place in our political campaigns as we move toward the 2027 general elections.”
Tinubu said he was committed to ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election, urging political leaders and supporters across party lines to conduct themselves responsibly.
He argued that political differences and competing ambitions should not turn Nigerians into enemies.
“As Nigerians, we are members of the same household living in different rooms. Therefore, our politics must elevate human conditions and focus on national progress and development,” he said.
The president also reiterated his directive to security agencies to deal firmly with individuals involved in activities capable of disrupting public order.
“Security agencies are therefore authorised to confront thuggery and other anti-social and anti-democratic activities with full force,” he said.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M