Following the coup scare in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday, the Defence Headquarters has dismissed the speculation.
Story of the Presidential Guards Brigade being put on red alert following unusual movements had raised coup suspicion in Abuja on Sunday.
Report had it that the entire security architecture was put on vigilance.
Clarifying the situation in a statement yesterday, spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, noted: “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded article published online on February 25, 2024 claiming that the Guards Brigade has been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicion of a coup plot in Nigeria.
“The publication also asserted amongst other things that the suspicion prompted an emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Staff to the President and Commander of the Guards Brigade.
“The Defence 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 (the Presidency) 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.
“Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters will seek legal redress on the issue, which has the ulterior motive of creating unnecessary tension in the country.”
BESIDES, Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has insisted that putsch is not a solution to the prevailing insecurity and hardship in the country.
Its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, told The Guardian that his organisation does not believe that anyone in his right senses could be talking about a military coup at this “moment of our national life.”
He said: “Nigerians have embraced democracy. The only major snag is that if there are any set of people working towards the toppling of democracy, then I think the people are actually embedded in the current Federal Government.”
