DHQ denies coup plot allegation, threatens legal action against Sahara Reporters
In a statement signed by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Acting Director of Defence Information, on 25 February 2024, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted the claim that the Guards Brigade was placed on high alert due to suspicion of a coup plot in Nigeria.
The DHQ described the allegation, which was published online by Sahara Reporters on 25 February 2024, as malicious and unfounded.
“The publication also falsely reported that the alleged coup plot triggered an emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Staff to the President and the Commander of the Guards Brigade. ”
The DHQ stated that the Guards Brigade has the statutory duty of protecting the seat of power and the Federal Capital Territory and its environs, and that it has always been on high alert to perform its tasks effectively.
The DHQ also recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had repeatedly affirmed the loyalty and commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the defence and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
The DHQ strongly condemned the baseless accusation by Sahara Reporters, which it said was a figment of the publisher’s imagination, and urged the public to disregard it.
The DHQ further called on relevant security agencies to take immediate and appropriate action against Sahara Reporters for its unpatriotic act. The DHQ also said it would seek legal redress on the issue, which it said had the ulterior motive of creating unnecessary tension in the country.
The DHQ appealed to the general public to disseminate the information for public awareness.
DHQ denies coup plot allegation, threatens legal action against Sahara Reporters