Nigeria, June 12 -- The federal government has disowned a history textbook alleged to contain distorted information about the origin of the Yoruba people, saying it was never approved for use in public schools.

This clarification follows a petition submitted by the Concerned Citizens of Yoruba Origin and Supporters of Truth against the textbook, authored by Tony and Ijeoma Duru and published by Tones Publishers.

In a statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the government said the textbook was not authored, commissioned, or approved by the education ministry.

The ministry said it would work with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other relevant agencies to thoroughly investigate th...