Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has dismissed a report of an imminent coup in the country.
The rebuttal followed a report by an online news medium of suspicious movement of troops around the nation’s capital, Abuja.
It also comes after the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Musa warned last week that those peddling the coup rumour would be dealt with decisively.
The reports claimed that the Presidential Brigade of Guards has been placed on high alert as a result of this.
Reacting to the report on Sunday, DHQ dismissed the fear of coup plot, urging Nigerians to disregard it.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukr Gusau, the military said the report “is totally false.”
The statement in part: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded article published online (Not Vanguard) on 25 February 2024 claiming that the Guards Brigade has been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicion of a coup plot in Nigeria.
“The publication also asserted amongst other things that the suspicion prompted emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Staff to the President and Commander of the Guards Brigade.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to categorically state that the allegation is totally false.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Guards Brigade has been statutorily assigned the responsibility of protecting the seat of power (The Presidency) and by extension the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.
“Hence, it is to be noted that the Guards Brigade has always been on high alert in order to effectively executive its assigned tasks.
“It will be recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa had in various fora reiterated the unalloyed commitment of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the protection and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
“Therefore, the Defence Headquarters strongly condemn this unsubstantiated assertion which is just a figment of imagination of the publisher and enjoins members of the public to disregard it.
“Furthermore, the Defence Headquarters calls on relevant security agencies to immediately take appropriate action against the Sahara Reporters for this unpatriotic action.”
Military Won’t Tolerate Coup- CDS
Musa stated, “I want Nigeria to be assured that the armed forces of Nigeria are here for them to protect them and to protect democracy and ensure that democracy thrives. They should have no fear. We have had a number of coups in countries around Nigeria, we have Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
“I know that is a lot of apprehension. I want to assure everyone that the Arm Forces of Nigeria is dedicated and committed to ensuring, securing, supporting and standing by democracy. We stand by democracy.
“You saw that ECOWAS was very decisive in the decision taken against the coup plotters and we want to assure Nigerians that nothing like a coup is going to take place in Nigeria.
“All members of the Armed Forces are pleased with democracy and we will continue to defend democracy.”
