By Ayo Ayodele
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as false and misleading an online publication suggesting that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was linked to an alleged attempted military coup.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ said the report also made “spurious references” to the recent announcement of the arrest of sixteen officers currently under investigation for professional misconduct.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to categorically state that the claims by the said publication are entirely false, malicious, and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace,” the statement read.
According to the DHQ, the cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade was to enable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country, while allowing members of the Armed Forces to sustain the momentum in the ongoing fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
The military further clarified that the investigation of the sixteen officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism within the ranks. An investigative panel, it said, has been duly constituted and its findings will be made public upon conclusion.
Reassuring Nigerians of the military’s loyalty to the Constitution, the DHQ called on citizens to continue to support security agencies and disregard the misinformation being spread by what it described as “enemies of the nation.”
“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 added.
Brigadier General Gusau emphasized that the Federal Government, the legislature, and the judiciary are working closely to ensure the safety, development, and wellbeing of the nation, stressing that “democracy is forever.”
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1. DHQ Debunks Coup Rumour, Clarifies Reason for Independence Day Parade Cancellation