The Minister of State for Defence in Nigeria, Dr Bello Matawalle, has directed the country’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to go after those calling for coup against the government due to current economic hardships in the country.
A statement from the defence ministry on Thursday said those calling for undemocratic change of the Nigerian government were agents of darkness and warned that anyone caught would not be treated lightly.
“The call for violent change of government by the military is absurd, preposterous and naive.”
The minister said that the Nigerian military has embraced democratic governance and was focused on their constitutional duty of defending the country.
“The propagators calling for the truncation of the constitutional government should desist from it and face the democratic reality on ground.
“Just because criminal elements attacked a warehouse and a haulage vehicle carrying food items to other parts of the country is not enough reason for unpatriotic individuals to resort to call for military intervention which has no place in modern realities.
“The military is highly professionalised with a good Civil-Military relationship, and they are exhibiting the highest standard of professionalism with the defence of our constitution as top priority,” the minister was quoted as saying.
He urged all Nigerians to support and keep faith with the government of President Bola Tinubu in the efforts to make Nigeria great, and reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to defending the Constitution, upholding democracy and ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
