Defence Headquarters breaks silence on purported coup attempt against Tinubu

By Sumaila Ogbaje, Abuja

The Defence Headquarters has debunked reports linking the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary to an alleged coup attempt, describing the publication as false, malicious and intended to cause panic.

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement on Saturday, said the online report also falsely connected the suspension of the anniversary events to an internal investigation involving 16 army officers.

He stressed that at no time did the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) hint at, or refer to, any coup plot, insisting that the story was a “calculated attempt to sow fear and distrust among Nigerians.”

According to Gusau, the decision to shelve the Independence Day parade was purely administrative, to allow President Bola Tinubu attend an important bilateral engagement abroad and to ensure that troops remain focused on ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations nationwide.

He explained that the probe of the 16 officers was a routine disciplinary process, part of efforts to maintain professionalism and integrity within the military ranks, adding that the outcome would be made public in due course.

“The DHQ urges Nigerians to ignore such baseless publications and continue to support the Armed Forces as they work tirelessly to secure the nation,” Gusau said.

He reaffirmed that the Nigerian military remains unwaveringly loyal to the Constitution and the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.