Nigeria: Military Refutes Coup Allegation

Military authorities in Nigeria have dismissed as false and malicious reports claiming that the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade was linked to an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a statement issued on Saturday by Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the DHQ described the publication as “misleading and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.” According to the communique, the decision to cancel the October 1, 2025 parade had nothing to do with any alleged coup attempt but was taken to allow President Tinubu attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country. The DHQ added that the move also enabled members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), to sustain momentum in ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry. The DHQ further clarified that the arrest and ongoing investigation of 16 officers recently reported in the media, was a purely internal process aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks, not a politically motivated action. It explained that a duly constituted investigative panel is currently reviewing the conduct of the affected personnel, and its findings will be made public once the process is concluded. “The ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is an internal routine process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks,” the statement said. Sa...