Presidential Guard Not on Red Alert-DHQ

The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has said that reports by an online media organization that the Presidential Guards Brigade has been placed on high alert over a coup in the making is not true.

The development is contained in a statement released Monday by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Brigadier Gen Tukur Gusau. 

According to the statement, the story, which gave the indication of some suspicious movements around the seat of power, prompting fears of a coup plot, is not true. 

“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded article published online (Not Vanguard) on 25 February 2024 claiming that the Guards Brigade has been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicion of a coup plot in Nigeria. 

“The publication also asserted amongst other things that the suspicion prompted emergency meeting involving President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Staff to the President and Commander of the Guards Brigade.

“The Defence Headquarters wishes to categorically state that the allegation is totally false," the statement said in part. 

It noted further that as a body set aside purely for the protection of the President and the seat of power, the Brigade of Guards is always on high alert. 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Guards Brigade has been statutorily assigned the responsibility of protecting the seat of power (The Presidency) and by extension the Federal Capital Territory and its environs. 

“Hence, it is to be noted that the Guards Brigade has always been on high alert in order to effectively executive its assigned tasks," the statement reiterated.