BREAKING: DHQ Speaks on Alleged Coup Plot, Explains Why Independence Day Parade Was Cancelled

• The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reacted to circulating rumours of an alleged coup plot in Nigeria, describing the claims as false and malicious.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as false and misleading a report circulating online that linked the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary to an alleged attempted military coup.

In a statement issued by Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, Abuja, the DHQ described the publication as “malicious and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”

According to the statement, the cancellation of the anniversary parade was a strategic decision to allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend a bilateral meeting outside the country, and to enable members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to sustain the momentum in the ongoing fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.

The military further addressed references made by the publication to the recent arrest of 16 officers currently under investigation for professional misconduct, clarifying that the probe is a routine internal process aimed at maintaining discipline and professionalism within the ranks.

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“An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings will be made public in due course,” the statement read.

Reaffirming its commitment to democratic governance, the DHQ urged citizens to disregard the falsehood being spread by “purveyors of misinformation and enemies of the nation.”

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains firmly loyal to the Constitution and to the Federal Government under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” the statement concluded.

The DHQ also called on peace-loving Nigerians to continue supporting the security agencies, adding that the Federal Government, legislature, and judiciary are working collectively to ensure the safety, unity, and development of the nation.