“Ba ma yi, ba ma so” — Tinubu booed at Abuja mosque; Presidency denies convoy stoning
Photo: President Bola Tinubu · Photo: Premium Times (FILE PHOTO, Nov 2026 — not verifiably from the mosque visit)
Youths chanted “Ba ma yi, ba ma so” as the President left Friday prayers — then two competing videos told opposite stories about what happened next.
Key points
- President Tinubu was booed by some youths at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Abuja on Friday after Juma'at prayers, with chants of 'Ba ma yi, ba ma so' — 'We don't want you; we don't support you'.
- Dino Melaye shared a video showing youths throwing stones at a convoy believed to be the President's. The Presidency disputes the stoning and posted counter-footage of cheering youths. The stoning is alleged, not established.
- Separately on Friday, Tinubu personally signed a statement ordering security agencies to confront political thuggery and violence with full force ahead of the 2027 elections.
President Bola Tinubu was booed by some youths at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, on Friday, 13 November, shortly after observing Juma'at prayers, amid complaints from worshippers over security restrictions imposed during his visit.
Videos circulating on social media showed youths chanting “Ba ma yi, ba ma so” — Hausa for “We don't want you; we don't support you” — as his convoy departed. ADC chieftain Dino Melaye shared a video showing youths throwing stones at a convoy believed to be the President's.
The Presidency disputed the stoning claim. O'tega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant on Digital Engagement, Strategy and New Media, posted separate footage showing Tinubu in a white outfit and black cap waving to cheering youths as he entered his official vehicle, writing: “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's footage does not independently establish whether the incident in Melaye's video occurred at another point along the President's route. No independent confirmation exists that the President was struck or injured — the stoning is alleged, not established.
Separately on Friday, Tinubu personally signed a statement ordering security agencies to confront political thuggery and violence with full force ahead of the 2027 elections.
The incident is the most shared Nigerian political clip of the night, landing 63 days before the election. The follow-up: any police or SSS statement, and whether more footage emerges.
Why this matters
Two videos from the same mosque, telling opposite stories — one shows the President booed and stoned, the other shows him cheered. It is the most shared Nigerian political clip of the night, 63 days before the election.
Latest developments
First published 14 Nov 2026, 08:20 WAT.
Related coverage on NewsFlux:
- Presidency fires back at Makinde: Tinubu acted swiftly on Oriire — but never answers the call · 13 Nov 2026, 19:26 WAT
- “Only Nigeria's speech was cut out” — Fani-Kayode accuses South African Presidency of deliberate snub; Pretoria fires back · 14 Nov 2026, 08:20 WAT
- “Look in the mirror” — NDC fires back at Wike over Obi anthem row, says old anthem was spontaneous · 14 Nov 2026, 08:20 WAT
Sources
- TheCable — Video: Tinubu's aide counters claim President's convoy was stoned at Abuja mosque (13 Nov 2026)
- PUNCH — Tinubu's aide dismisses reports of attack on presidential convoy in Abuja (13 Nov 2026)
- Vanguard — Tinubu aide dismisses claims of convoy stoning (13 Nov 2026)
- The Nigeria Lawyer — 'Ba ma yi, ba ma so': Youths boo Tinubu at Abuja mosque (13 Nov 2026)
The booing and the 'Ba ma yi, ba ma so' chant are verified across outlets. The alleged stoning is NOT confirmed — the Presidency disputes it and no outlet has independently verified it. The photo is a recent file photo of the President, not from the mosque visit. No unverified claim from social-media previews is repeated in this article.