Presidency Begins Hunt for Coup Instigators, Including Social Media Users

The Federal Government of Nigeria, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, has begun a clampdown on suspected leaders of an attempted military coup, yet ‘officially’ considered ‘rumoured’ in the country.

This comes despite the government and military’s implicit and silent avoidance of issuing out any statements, addressing public concerns about the attempt to overturn the democratic government.

Authorities’ shocking silence on the attempted military takeover has kept so many Nigerians in limbo, with political parties, lawyers and civil society organisations calling the government to address the nation.

Despite refusing to explicitly admit the coup attempt, the government, the military, and other agencies’ actions have collectively confirmed the existence of an attempted coup d’etat which was first reported by Sahara Reporters and Premium Times.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters initially arrested 16 officers for alleged indiscipline and breach of service.  Later, it denied that the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Parade was linked to the attempted coup, saying it was primarily to avail the President to attend an important bilateral event outside the country.

The Independence Day in Nigeria was deliberately set aside to mark the very day Nigeria gained its independence from the British Colonial Government.

Like June 12, Democracy Day, Independence Day remains one of the days significant, not only to Nigerians, but to the President who must technically lead the march for the remembrance of the Day annually.

Unlike the content of the Nigerian Defence Headquarters’ statement, President Tinubu did not attend any bilateral event on Independence Day. He in fact, celebrated the Independence Day in Lagos, according to this article.

Though, has yet to admit, the subsequent weeks with the presidency have seen intense restructuring of Nigeria’s service chiefs and more arrests of suspected coup plotters. However, President Tinubu has not publicly acknowledged a coup attempt.

Instead, he is swinging rapidly into action. On October 24, President Tinubu announced sweeping changes in the military hierarchy to strengthen national security. General Olufemi Oluyede replaced General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff.

Major-General W. Shaibu became Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke became Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas became Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retained his position.

Following this, an individual identified as Innocent Chukwuma was also arrested by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) for repeatedly calling for a military takeover on social media.

Immediately after his arrest, another news broke with the arrest of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva. Soldiers from the Nigerian Army stormed his Abuja residence over alleged links to a coup plot.

The government continues to hunt down anyone linked to the coup, including social media users, while explicitly refusing to accept its existence.

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