No confirmation of a coup plot, says DHQ

The Nigeria defence headquarters says there is no confirmation of a coup plot.

Last week, Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, issued a statement warning officers and men of the army to desist from having meetings with politicians.

He said he had information that some officers were meeting with politicians for “undisclosed reasons”.

This fuelled speculation that a coup d’ etat was imminent.

But speaking with journalists on Wednesday, John Enenche, spokesman of the DHQ, said there was no confirmation that a coup plot was being hatched.

Enenche said the warning issued by the army was a caution to officers to maintain professional conduct.

He said the armed forces remained loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, and “in complete subordination to civil rule.”

“All fears about a coup should be allayed as the contemporary Nigerian military is abreast with the best international practices in governance, which is democracy,” he said.

“It is pertinent to state that if there are signs of actions that point to likely breaches of military code of conduct as it were, professionally, it is a command responsibility to caution officers and men on routine basis to conform to ethics of the military,” he said.

“Officers and men are cautioned to exercise command and control by appropriate superior authorities through commanders at various levels.

“This is to prevent members of the armed forces from derailing from their core focus of total dedication to their oath of allegiance.

“Cautions or warnings are issued with investigations following.”

On Monday, Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said any coup attempt would be resisted.

He added that Nigerians must be ready to grow democracy because they had sacrificed much for it.