Hardship: Army speaks on ‘coup plot against Tinubu’

• An online newspaper reported that the Presidential Guards Brigade had been put on high alert following unusual movements

The Nigeria Army (NA) has debunked the insinuation of a possible coup plot against the democratically elected government of President Bola Tinubu.

It also described as “fake news” a report by an online newspaper (not WITHIN NIGERIA) on Sunday of suspicions of a coup plot in Nigeria over the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.

It will be recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, had warned people calling for a coup over the current economic hardship in the country to desist from such.

However, an online newspaper reported that the Presidential Guards Brigade had been put on high alert following unusual movements, leading to suspicions of a coup plot in Nigeria.

It said it exclusively learnt on Sunday that the suspicions prompted emergency meetings involving the Commander of the Presidential Guards Brigade, Col. Adebisi Onasanya, President Tinubu and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

“The Presidential Guards Brigade was placed on high alert after unusual armoured corps movement spurred coup suspicion

“Last week, Col. Onasanya met with the President and Chief of Staff twice within 20 hours.

“They have also placed key brigades under watch due to planned protest,” the online newspaper claimed a top Presidency source told it.

But, taking to its verified X handle on Sunday evening, the Nigeria Army simply described the report as “fake news” without going into any detail.

WITHIN NIGERIA reports that there has been tension in the country amid the current economic hardship, rising inflation and high cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira by President Tinubu administration, a development that has led to spontaneous protests in some cities across the country in the last two weeks.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is also gearing up for a two-day nationwide protest slated for February 27 and 28 over the same economic situation in the country.