Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has come out swinging — debunking swirling rumours of a coup plot said to have triggered the cancellation of the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.
In a fiery statement on Friday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, branded the reports as “a fabrication of lies, cooked up by enemies of the state and peddlers of fear.”
> “There is no coup. There is no panic. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain loyal, focused, and committed to defending our democracy,” Gusau declared.
According to the DHQ, the suspension of the Independence Day parade was purely administrative — a routine decision to enable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend an important strategic bilateral engagement abroad, while military personnel continue their tireless campaigns against insurgency, terrorism, and banditry.
> “The claims in the said publication are entirely false, malicious, and designed to create needless tension among citizens,” the statement read.
The military further dismissed reports linking the arrest of sixteen officers to an alleged coup plot. It clarified that the arrests were strictly internal disciplinary actions — routine procedures aimed at maintaining professionalism within the ranks.
> “The investigation of the sixteen officers is an internal process — not a political witch-hunt. Linking it to a coup attempt is baseless and irresponsible,” the DHQ stated firmly.
Reiterating its unwavering loyalty to the Constitution and to President Tinubu, the Defence Headquarters reassured Nigerians that there is no threat to the nation’s democracy.
> “The Nigerian Armed Forces stand as defenders of the nation’s unity and stability. We urge citizens to disregard fake news and remain confident in their military,” the statement added.
And with a message that echoed through the corridors of power, the DHQ concluded:
> “Democracy is forever.”
Meanwhile, the military has cautioned the media against sensational reporting capable of stoking unnecessary fear or undermining public confidence, urging journalists to verify information before publication.
As the nation marches on in its democratic journey, the Armed Forces say they remain focused — not on politics, but on protecting Nigeria’s peace and future.
PIONEER NEWS 