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Nigerian army refutes claims of planned coup against national gov't

Xinhua, June 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian Army on Thursday refuted claims that some of its senior officers planned to topple the national government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Army spokesman Col. Sani Usman dismissed the purported coup plan as "baseless and a distraction" to the military's various operations, including the determination to end the vicious attacks by Boko Haram in the volatile northeast region and the economic sabotage of militants in the country's Delta area.

The Nigerian army is suspecting a militant group known as the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force in the country's southeast region of being behind the allegation of planned coup d'etat, Usman said.

He told Xinhua the army is investigating the allegation and pledged the loyalty of the army to the Nigerian president and other democratic institutions.

Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, after nearly two decades of military rule. Endit