The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as false and misleading a report 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 on Thursday, the DHQ described the publication as malicious and intended to incite tension and distrust among Nigerians. It clarified that the decision to cancel the parade was purely administrative and based on strategic national priorities.
According to the statement, the cancellation was to allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country, while members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) continue to sustain momentum in the ongoing fight against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
The DHQ also addressed references in the report to the recent arrest of sixteen officers currently under investigation, noting that the process is an internal disciplinary measure aimed at upholding professionalism within the military.
“An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings will be made public,” the statement read, reaffirming the military’s commitment to accountability, discipline, and constitutional order.
The DHQ urged Nigerians to disregard the falsehood being circulated and to continue supporting security agencies in their efforts to ensure peace and stability.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains firmly loyal to the Constitution and to the Federal Government under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Democracy is forever,” the statement added.
