The Presidency and the Nigerian military have jointly debunked widespread rumours of a planned coup, describing the reports as false, reckless, and aimed at destabilizing the country.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said the Presidency is aware of false claims making rounds on social media about alleged plots within the Armed Forces. He dismissed the reports as “fabricated lies designed to cause panic and distrust in government institutions.”
“There is no coup plot anywhere. The Nigerian military remains loyal to the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu, and to the Nigerian Constitution. Those peddling such dangerous rumours are enemies of democracy and national stability,” Onanuga stated.
Similarly, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in a separate statement signed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, clarified that the recent arrest of 16 military officers had nothing to do with any political conspiracy.
According to Buba, the officers were detained over acts of indiscipline and violations of military regulations, which are being addressed through the established chain of command.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria are professional and apolitical. Any attempt to link routine disciplinary actions to a coup plot is false, mischievous, and should be disregarded,” the statement read in part.
Both the Presidency and the military warned those spreading fake and inciting information to desist or face the full weight of the law, reiterating that Nigeria’s democracy is stable, secure, and not under threat.
They assured citizens that the government remains focused on its developmental agenda, while the military continues to uphold its constitutional duty of protecting the nation’s sovereignty and democratic order.