Coup Plot: DHQ refutes allegation of Guards Brigade on high alert

 Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has refuted allegation that Guards Brigade are placed on high alert over suspicious of coup plot in Nigeria.

DHQ responding to a report by SaharaReporters said the report allegation is totally false.

SaharaReporters in a  report on Sunday said the  Presidential Guards Brigade has been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicions of a coup plot in Nigeria.

SaharaReporters stated that the suspicions prompted emergency meetings involving the Commander of the Presidential Guards Brigade, Col. Adebisi Onasanya, President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

In a swift response, Acting Director Defence Information, DHQ, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau in a  statement obtained by WesternPost said, “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 OFR 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 relavant 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.”

A top Presidency source told SaharaReporters, that “Last week, Col. Onasanya met with the President and Chief of Staff twice within 20 hours.

“They have also placed key brigades under watch due to planned protest.”

There has been tension in the country amid the current hardship, rising inflation and high cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira by President Tinubu’s administration.

The floating of the naira allows the market forces to determine its value. The policies have pushed up the prices of goods and services astronomically, increased the rate of inflation and worsened hardship in the country.

Last week, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned people calling for a coup over the current economic hardship in Nigeria to desist from such.

Musa, who said the Armed Forces would continue to protect the country’s democracy, warned that the long arms of the law would soon catch up with the proponents of coup d’état.

While fielding questions from journalists when he inaugurated the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the CDS admitted that the country was going through serious economic challenges.

He, however, insisted that having a military coup in the country was not an option.