Defence Headquarters Dismisses Coup Rumour
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted claims made by an online media organization regarding the Presidential Guards Brigade being placed on high alert due to suspicious activities near the seat of power.
The said reports suggest concerns of a coup plot.
However, in a statement issued on Sunday, the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier Gen Tukur Gusau, emphasized that the article published online on 25 February 2024 was baseless and misleading.
Gusau said: “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 the imagination of the publisher and encourages members of the public to disregard it.”
The Defence Headquarters also urges relevant security agencies to promptly address the unpatriotic actions of Sahara Reporters (a media platform which reportedly published the said report).
Additionally, legal action will be pursued to address the issue and prevent any further unnecessary tension in the country, the DHQ noted.
