Korede Abdullah 
Director of Defence Information, DHQ, Brig. Gen. Gusau
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as baseless and malicious reports alleging that Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade was cancelled over a coup plot.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, described the report as a “fabrication intended to incite fear and distrust among Nigerians.”
“At no time did the military mention any coup attempt. Nigerians should disregard this falsehood spread by enemies of national unity,” Gusau said.
He explained that the decision to suspend the 2025 Independence Day parade was purely administrative. “It was to enable the President to attend a strategic bilateral meeting abroad and for the Armed Forces to sustain counterterrorism operations nationwide,” he added.
Gusau further clarified that the arrest of sixteen military officers under investigation for professional misconduct had no link to any coup-related activity.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully loyal to the Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement read.
The DHQ reaffirmed that the government’s three arms — executive, legislature, and judiciary — are united in preserving national stability and democracy.
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