ENUGU, NIGERIA (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as misleading a report by an online publication suggesting that the cancellation of events marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was connected to an alleged attempted military coup.
The report had claimed that 16 military officers, ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General, were arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for allegedly holding covert meetings to plan a coup against the Federal Government.
In a statement released on Saturday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Information Brigadier General Tukur Gusau described the publication as false, malicious, and intended to create unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.
According to the DHQ, the decision to cancel the Independence Anniversary parade was purely administrative and had no connection to any alleged coup plot.
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“The cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade was made to allow President Bola Tinubu to attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country and to enable members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to sustain momentum in the ongoing fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry,” the statement clarified.
The military further explained that the ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers was a routine internal process aimed at maintaining discipline and professionalism within the ranks of the Armed Forces.
“An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings will be made public upon conclusion,” the statement added.
Reassuring Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to constitutional rule, the DHQ called on all citizens to support the security agencies in safeguarding national peace and unity.
“The Federal Government, the legislature, and the judiciary are working closely for the safety, development, and well-being of the nation. Democracy is forever,” the DHQ said.
The Defence Headquarters also urged members of the public to disregard the falsehood being circulated by “purveyors of misinformation and enemies of the state.”
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains firmly loyal to the Constitution and the Federal Government under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the statement reaffirmed.