The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked reports linking the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade to an alleged coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu, describing the claims as false and misleading.
However, military sources confirmed that a panel has indeed been set up to investigate about 20 officers currently in custody over what authorities have termed “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
Sahara Reporters had earlier reported that 16 officers including a brigadier general and a colonel were detained in late September after intelligence suggested they were holding secret meetings and expressing discontent with the current administration.
A senior military source corroborated the arrests, said, “The report is true. More have been picked up since the initial arrests.” The source added that the officers “had tentatively picked a date for the coup and were continuing consultations when the plot leaked,” noting that the government became alarmed and subsequently “cancelled the National Independence Day parade on October 1 because it was a military ceremony and they did not want to take any risk,” according to Premium Times.
Another official said, “The intelligence pointed to plans to destabilise the government. Some officers were reportedly holding meetings to discuss a possible takeover.”
The development comes amid heightened security concerns and follows a wave of military coups across Africa, including a recent one in Madagascar making it the ninth on the continent since 2020.
