The reported rumour of a coup to upstage the President Muhammadu Buhari government has sent a panic alarm ringing through the military top hierarchy. Despite dismissing the coup story as a rumour and the figment of the imagination of the propagators, we can authoritatively report that the military has begun secret investigation to uncover those behind the story and if there was any attempt, meeting or concept of a military putsch being hatched by some officer.
To this end, senior army commanders were summoned to an emergency meeting which held under the chairmanship of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the army headquarters . A top military source told our correspondent that Gen Buratai , whom he described as a “very committed professional soldiers and highly respected in the top command structure of the military” was miffed by the rumour and was determined to get to its root.
At the meeting held on Friday, the Army seized the opportunity to review the security situation in the country but the issue of the coup rumour featured prominently in the discourse. Our source said from the tone of the meeting, Nigerians should expect more restructuring in the Army.
One of the GOCs present at the meeting Maj. Gen Adeniyi Oyebade, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Army in Kaduna State, said: “Like you all know, the Chief of Army Staff summoned his top commanders across the Army for a quick meeting this morning. Essentially, the meeting was to review the security situation in the country, and to also let us know some of the reorganisations that has taken place over the last few days”.
Meantime, a youth group under the aegis of Niger Delta Youths Solidarity Movement on Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the coup rumour allegedly being hatched by the the Niger Delta militant groups who continue to blow oil installations in the region.
At a press conference in Abuja, Comrade Kpokpogri Prince, noted that the presence of the military in the region was part of the reasons the militants came up with the coup rumour, just to intimidate the government and coerce it into negotiation.
“We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard stories of impending coup allegedly being hatched by militant groups in the Niger Delta region because they are mere rumour being concocted by oil thieves and miscreants who detest the presence of navy and army in the region,” the group said.
The group it was worried by the rather worsening environmental pollution in the region. The group also noted the implication of oil bunkering in the region, noting that it put large sums of money at the disposal of the criminals to purchase weapons illegally which they said was dangerous for the nation at this time.
“In view of the bad light in which the militants with the active backing of the ex-military officers sought to cast the entire Niger Delta region, we deem it imperative to warn them to stop blackmailing the institution of the military so as not to force them into attacking the region,” the group said.
