DHQ dismisses report on suspicion of coup in Nigeria

The Defence Headquarters has debunked an online report alleging that the Guards Brigade has been placed on high alert following suspicions of moves to stage a coup in the country, describing the report as total false.

This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by Acting Director Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, in reaction to an article published by an online platform 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 DHQ said that the publication was totally false, figment of imagination of the publisher and enjoined the members of the public to disregard it.

It pointed out that “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 Presidential Guards Brigade has always been on high alert in order to effectively executive its assigned tasks.”

The statement recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa OFR, 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.”

The Defence Headquarters called on relevant security agencies “to immediately take appropriate action against the Sahara Reporters for this unpatriotic action and promised to seek legal redress on the issue which had the ulterior motive of creating unnecessary tension in the country. “