Coup: Defence HQ denies plot to usurp Tinubu’s administration

The Defence Headquarters has denied accusations that the Guards Brigade was placed on high alert owing to suspicious movements, stoking fears of a coup attempt in Nigeria.

This was announced in a statement signed by the interim Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, and posted on their X account on Monday.

The Defence Headquarters noted that the Force is loyal to President Bola Tinubu; therefore, there are no plans to usurp his administration in a coup.

Furthermore, the Defence Headquarters noted that the report by Sahara Reporters, which alleged the plotting of a coup by the force, is false and should be jettisoned by all and sundry.

The statement read, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters #DefenceInfoNG has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded article published online by Sahara Reporters on February 25, 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, among other things, that the suspicion prompted an emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Staff, and 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 execute 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 condemns this unsubstantiated assertion, which is just a figment of the 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. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters will seek legal redress on the issue, which has the ulterior motive of creating unnecessary tension in the country.”