The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted reports by an online publication alleging that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was connected to an attempted military coup.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) described the report as “false, malicious, and aimed at causing unnecessary tension and distrust among Nigerians.”
According to the DHQ, the decision to cancel the parade was made to enable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country, while also allowing members of the Armed Forces to sustain their operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry across the nation.
The statement further clarified that the recent arrest and investigation of sixteen officers, which the publication referenced, was purely a routine internal process to uphold discipline and professionalism within the military. An investigative panel has been constituted, and its findings will be made public upon conclusion.
The DHQ urged Nigerians to disregard the falsehood being spread by what it described as “purveyors of misinformation and enemies of the nation,” reaffirming the military’s unwavering loyalty to the Constitution and the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It also called on citizens to continue supporting security agencies, stressing that the Federal Government, legislature, and judiciary remain united in their efforts to ensure national safety, development, and stability.
