The Nigerian Army has taken to social media to dispel rumors of a potential military coup against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, denouncing the reports as "fake news." Speculation had surfaced suggesting that the presidential guards were on high alert due to suspicions of a coup plot in Nigeria, as reported by some media outlets.
In response to the speculations, the Army quoted one of the reports on its official social media page and dismissed it as "FAKE NEWS." The reports had indicated that key brigades were under surveillance and that the Commander of the Presidential Guards Brigade had held crucial meetings with Tinubu and his Chief of Staff.
The rumors emerged against the backdrop of increasing economic hardships faced by Nigerians, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, leading to rising inflation and a high cost of living. Last week, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, cautioned against calls for a coup and urged people to refrain from such actions.
General Musa emphasized the military's commitment to protecting democracy, stating that those advocating for a coup do not have Nigeria's best interests at heart. He warned that the law would catch up with anyone promoting anti-democratic activities and stressed the importance of democracy in fostering positive developments in Nigeria.
