By Chioma Favour
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has strongly dismissed as false, baseless, and malicious an online publication alleging that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was linked to an attempted military coup.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, described the claim as “a fabrication by mischief makers bent on misleading the public and causing unnecessary tension.”
According to the DHQ, the decision to suspend the Independence Day parade was purely a strategic and administrative measure to enable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend an important bilateral engagement abroad, while the Armed Forces concentrate on ongoing nationwide operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
Brigadier General Gusau further clarified that the recent arrest of sixteen military officers currently under investigation had nothing to do with any coup plot, explaining that it was part of routine internal disciplinary procedures aimed at maintaining professionalism, integrity, and accountability within the Armed Forces.“An investigative panel has been set up, and its findings will be made public upon conclusion,” he assured.
The DHQ urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour and other unfounded narratives being circulated online, warning that such misinformation only serves the interests of “enemies of national peace and unity.”
Reaffirming the loyalty of the military to the Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the DHQ emphasized that the Armed Forces remain “fully committed to the defence of democracy, the unity of Nigeria, and the safety of all citizens.”
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain resolute in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and in upholding democratic governance. Democracy is not negotiable it is the bedrock of our national progress,” the statement concluded.
