Nigeria: No, Nigerian Politician Peter Obi Was Not Stabbed in Abuja

No, Nigerian politician Peter Obi was not stabbed in Abuja

IN SHORT: A message circulating on Facebook claims that a Fulani man stabbed Nigerian politician Peter Obi at a hotel in the capital, Abuja. The claim is false.

Politician Peter Obi was stabbed at a hotel in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. That’s according to a message posted as “breaking news” in a public Facebook group with over 365,000 members.

Part of the post, dated 20 May 2025, reads: “Breaking news: Peter Obi was stabbed by an unidentified Fulani man while attending a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. He has been rushed to the Aso Rock Clinic for emergency treatment. Sources allege that the attack may be linked to a wider plot, potentially involving elements close to the APC and President Tinubu.”

The same claim appears here, here, here and here.

Obi is the former governor of Anambra state in southeastern Nigeria and a leading opposition figure in the country. He ran for president on a Labour Party ticket in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, but it was Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Party, or APC, who won.

The Fulani are an ethnic group whose people are predominantly cattle herders scattered across West Africa.

In Nigeria, they are indigenous to the north. They have been involved in conflicts with farming communities across the country and linked to armed attacks, kidnappings and banditry. However, there is no evidence that all Fulani are involved in criminal activities.

But is it true that a Fulani man stabbed Obi in Abuja? We checked.

No evidence of the claim

A Fulani man attacking Obi, who is Igbo, would heighten tensions and mistrust between both ethnic groups and stir intense debate on social media.

Considering his status and popularity, it’s unlikely that the Nigerian media would fail to report such an attack on Obi.

Additionally, the claim that Obi was rushed to the clinic at Aso Rock clinic, the presidential villa in Abuja, would have made headlines if it were true.

We found no evidence of the claim in the media or social media.

Obi’s public activities, announcements and opinions are well-documented on his X timeline.

The timeline includes photos of Obi at various public events since the claim began circulating on 20 May. But there is no mention of him being stabbed in Abuja.

The claim is false.

By Africa Check