DHQ Dismisses Coup Attempt Rumour

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked a media report that the Presidential Guards Brigade has been put on high alert over the fear of a coup attempt.

The military described the allegation published by an online platform as malicious and unfounded.

The medium claimed it exclusively learnt that the suspicions prompted emergency meetings involving the Commander of the Presidential Guards Brigade, Col. Adebisi Onasanya, President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

But the DHQ dismissed the report in a statement issued on Monday morning by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier Gen Tukur Gusau,

Gusau also denied the claim that President Tinubu had an emergency meeting with Gbajabiamila, and the Commander of the Guards Brigade over the alleged coup plot.

According to him, the Guards Brigade had been statutorily assigned the responsibility of protecting the Presidency and, by extension, the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.

Gusau recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. 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.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded article published online 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 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.

“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.”