The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed that the man who attempted to breach presidential protocol and approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during an official visit to Kaduna is mentally ill.
Identified as Umar Mohammed, a resident of Anguwan Muazu in Kaduna, the individual was said to be born with a psychiatric disorder, according to a statement released by the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan.
The startling incident, which unfolded in the full glare of cameras, occurred as President Tinubu arrived for the commissioning of a newly built specialist hospital in Millennium City, Kaduna. In a now-viral video, a visibly agitated Mohammed broke through security lines in what seemed like a desperate attempt to reach the President. Security operatives swiftly intervened, momentarily heightening tension at the high-profile event. However, President Tinubu, exuding calm, reportedly instructed his security aides to “leave him alone.”
Police authorities clarified that the suspect was driven purely by excitement and bore no malicious intent. “He was simply overwhelmed by the occasion and acted on impulse,” said the police spokesperson. The police also emphasized that no dangerous or incriminating items were found on Mohammed, further ruling out any security threat.
The dramatic moment briefly overshadowed what was otherwise a politically symbolic event — the unveiling of a 300-bed specialist hospital named after President Tinubu. The state-of-the-art facility, now christened Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, stands as one of the most ambitious healthcare projects undertaken by Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
While inaugurating the hospital, Governor Sani showered accolades on Tinubu, portraying him as a transformative leader and the inspiration behind Kaduna’s development strides. “Your leadership is a beacon of light. It is working, and it is changing lives,” Sani declared with enthusiasm, echoing the administration’s alignment with the President’s vision for national renewal.
The naming of the hospital comes just nine days after another national edifice — the Abuja International Conference Centre — was renamed in Tinubu’s honour by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. That event, held in Abuja, was graced by high-ranking officials including FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and a host of top dignitaries.
Despite the celebratory tone of these dedications, they occur amid growing public unease over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions. Many critics argue that lavish ceremonies and symbolic gestures stand in stark contrast to the stark realities faced by ordinary Nigerians battling inflation, unemployment, and insecurity.
Still, Tinubu’s loyalists argue that such projects and recognitions reflect his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development and national pride.
As the video of Umar Mohammed’s attempted approach continues to trend on social media, it serves as a reminder of the highly charged atmosphere surrounding Nigeria’s political class — where adoration, desperation, and mental health often intersect in unpredictable ways.
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