THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the Armed Forces of Nigeria have no provision for an acting chief of Army staff.
Consequently, the DHQ said it did not appoint any officer to stand in for the chief of Army staff (COAS) Taoreed Lagbaja, who has been away from the country for some time.
These were contained in a statement released by the DHQ on its official X handle on Monday, October 21, and signed by the director of defence information, Tukur Gusau, a brigadier general.
The statement followed rumours that an acting COAS had been appointed to stand in for Lagbaja, whose absence forced many Nigerians to suspect he was ill.
The suspicion climaxed on Sunday when a former presidential aide and social media commentator, Jackson Ude, announced on X that the COAS was dead.
Responding, the Army said the rumours were untrue.
In the statement released on Monday, the DHQ said Lagbaja was on “a well-deserved rest as part of his 2024 annual leave.”
It added that the Armed Forces of Nigeria were professionally managed and all the service chiefs performed their duties as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution.
“Major General Abdulsalam Bagudu Ibrahim, the Chief of Policy and Plans, is providing routine briefs to the COAS in accordance with standard military procedures.
“The DHQ urges individuals spreading unfounded rumours to desist from doing so immediately. The COAS is hale and hearty and will soon resume normal duties at the end of his leave,” the DHQ stated.
It urged media organisations to verify information with the appropriate authorities before releasing “fake news” to the public.
It added that the chief of defence staff (CDS) spoke with Lagbaja, earlier on Monday.
The DHQ warned those advocating for a military takeover, “as seen in a viral video, to be aware that such actions are treasonable under the Constitution.
“The military remains focused on achieving its statutory responsibilities of protecting the nation’s integrity,” the DHQ stated.
It said relevant security agencies had been mandated to take necessary action against any individual or group advocating for unconstitutional change in the country.
A reporter with the ICIR
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