Some Nigerians have reacted following Nigerian Army’s effort in dismissing the rumours of a possible coup against the President Bola Tinubu administration as “fake news.”
An online publication alleged that the presidential guards have been placed on “high alert” over suspicions of a coup plot in Nigeria.
The report said key brigades were under watch as the Commander of the Presidential Guards Brigade, Col. Adebisi Onasanya held meetings with Tinubu and his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The news trended on X (formerly Twitter) for hours Sunday and Monday.
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A statement by the acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier Gen Tukur Gusau debunked this, saying, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded article published online by SaharaReporters on 25 February 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 emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, the 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 executive its assigned tasks.
“It will be recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff, General 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.
“Therefore, the Defence Headquarters strongly condemn this unsubstantiated assertion which is just a figment of imagination of the publisher and enjoins members of the public to disregard it.
“Furthermore, the Defence Headquarters calls on relevant security agencies to immediately take appropriate action against the Sahara Reporters for this unpatriotic action.
“Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters will seek legal redress on the issue which has the ulterior motive of creating unnecessary tension in the country.”
Nigerians react to Coup scare
Nigerians have reacted to the coup scare reported by an online newspaper in their different X (formerly Twitter) handles.
@_Riddo wrote ”With my little time on earth and in this country, anything the Nigerian government come out to debunk to be lies or fake always turns out to be true.”
@OkoliStephenIz3 remarked ‘‘Interesting Times. In every rumour there’s always an atom of truth The Nigeria military should up their game to prevent any form of coup as that would be the worst thing that will happen to Nigeria now We can’t go the way of Sudan after how many years of democracy.’’
@Auta_Musa_observed ‘‘Thanks for sharing this information with the concerned general public, and we the Nigerians want this coup to happen because things are getting worse in this country everyday. The poor man is suffering and dying from hunger. Please do it and Nigerians will support. Thank you.’’
@BishopPOEvang noted ‘‘For you guys to do this, then the News is true.’’
@Ugowil stated ‘‘Take over from a certificate forger, a drug baron and a perjury offender. Criminality isn’t competence do you want the country to completely sink before you can act?’’
@AladejanaDeji penned ‘‘The loyalty of the Nation’s military is to the constitution and the people of Nigeria. No one is taking us back to those dark days of coups and dictatorship. Kudos to the Military for staying firm in their resolve to keep disgracing these fake news mongers.’’
