Buratai Summons Commanders over Allegation of Coup Plot

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Friday, summoned senior officers to the army headquarters in Abuja, to review the security situation in the country. This came sequel to the allegations raised by the Niger Delta militant group that some senior military officers were plotting to overthrow the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It would be recalled that the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF), had on Wednesday, come up with a claim that some senior military officers sought its assistance to overthrow the current administration through the continuous bombings of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. According to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, “At an emergency meeting between top army commanders and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian Army, today, reaffirmed its allegiance and loyalty to civil authority and the Nigerian Constitution. “The issue of coup will not happen within the ranks of the army. 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 reorganization that has taken place over the last few days. “We want to assure all our citizens that the army remains apolitical, our loyalty, allegiance to the constitutional authority of this land, the three branches of government, Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief, our loyalty is unquestionable. “We have decided long before now, since the beginning of the fourth Republic, to abide by our code of conduct and to remain subordinate to the civil authority. “That has not changed and it will not change. We want to assure our people to be rest assured that the issue of coup will not happen within the ranks of the army and so also within the ranks of members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.’’