More Army Officers Questioned Over Alleged Coup Plot

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Wednesday, finally opened up on the rumours of a coup plot in the country, saying the military was committed to democracy according to international best practices.

The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, stated this during a briefing attended by the Directors of Information of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy.

This briefing came a week after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, alleged that some Nigerians were approaching soldiers for some “undisclosed political reasons.”

He warned that any officer or soldier caught hobnobbing with politicians would be dealt with.

Buratai had advised officers and soldiers interested in politics to resign from the army.

The statement by the army chief had, in the last one week, created apprehension in the country with several civil society ogranisations, groups and notable Nigerians warning the military against truncating democracy.

A military source told our correspondent on Wednesday that the Army had constituted a panel since last week to quizz officers and soldiers, suspected to be involved in the unholy alliance.

When asked to confirm if a panel was quizzing suspected officers, Enenche said, “We have set up an administrative machinery, as it were for this matter. It is not good for us at this stage to tell you something that may not be true. Let us allow time for the administrative procedures. Be patient.”

The DHQ spokesman, however, said the armed forces were loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief, adding that it was committed to working for the sustenance of democracy.

Punch