The Defense Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed the allegation that the Guards Brigade had been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicion of a coup plot in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Director of Defense Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Monday in Abuja.
The military described the allegation in an article published by an online medium on Sunday as malicious and unfounded.
Gusau said the publication also alleged, among other things, that the suspicion prompted an emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Staff, and the President and Commander of the Guards Brigade.
“The Defense Headquarters wishes to categorically state that the allegation is totally false.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Guards Brigade has been statutorily assigned the responsibility of protecting the seat of power and, by extension, the Federal Capital Territory and its environs.
“Hence, it is to be noted that the Guards Brigade has always been on high alert in order to effectively execute its assigned tasks,” he said.
Gusau recalled that the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, had in various fora reiterated the unalloyed commitment of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the protection and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.
”The DHQ strongly condemns this unsubstantiated assertion, which is just a figment of the imagination of the publisher, and enjoins members of the public to disregard it.
”The DHQ has called on relevant security agencies to immediately take appropriate action against the publisher of the article (Sahara Reporters)
“Meanwhile, the Defense Headquarters will seek legal redress on the issue, which has the ulterior motive of creating unnecessary tension in the country,” he added. (NAN)
