Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Saturday dismissed as “false and malicious” an online report suggesting that the cancellation of activities marking the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary was linked to an alleged attempted military coup.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, said in a statement from Abuja that the claim was “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”
According to him, the decision to cancel the Independence Day parade was purely administrative and based on the President’s foreign engagements and the military’s operational priorities.
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“The decision regarding the cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade was to allow Mr. President attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country and for members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to sustain the momentum in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry,” the statement read.
Addressing reports about the arrest of sixteen officers mentioned in the publication, Gusau clarified that the matter was a routine disciplinary process within the military.
“The ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks,” he explained, adding that “an investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings will be made public.”
Gusau urged Nigerians to ignore what he described as “falsehoods being circulated by the purveyors of misinformation and enemies of our 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 said.
He further called on citizens to continue supporting security agencies, emphasizing that “the Federal Government, the legislature, and the judiciary are working closely for the safety, development, and well-being of the nation. Democracy is forever.”
