The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the military takeover in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional order after soldiers announced they had seized power and suspended the electoral process.
In an official statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria described the development as “an unconstitutional change of government” and expressed “profound dismay and deep concern” over the crisis.
Nigeria said the military intervention, which came just days after Guinea-Bissau held presidential and legislative elections, undermines democratic norms and threatens stability in the West African region. The statement stressed that the coup “represents a blatant violation of the principles of democracy and good governance upheld by ECOWAS.”
The government called on the junta to immediately restore democratic structures, ensure the safety of all detained officials, and protect both local and international election observers currently in the country. It also urged all parties to exercise restraint and embrace peaceful dialogue.
Nigeria further warned that those responsible for the coup could face accountability measures, reaffirming its commitment to work with regional and international partners to safeguard peace and constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau.
The military takeover, which saw borders closed and the electoral process suspended, has drawn widespread condemnation from ECOWAS, the African Union, and various election-observation missions monitoring the polls.
IGP Withdraws 11,566 VIP Escorts, Deploys Officers to Boost Security
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has issued fresh operational directives to strengthen internal security across the country, ordering an expanded nationwide deployment of police personnel ahead of the yuletide season.
This followed a high-level strategic conference held on Thursday at the Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, where the IGP met with senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the IGP commended senior officers for their resilience and sacrifices in ensuring public safety, while directing them to “reinforce intelligence-gathering mechanisms and deepen community policing through sustained citizen engagement.”
According to Hundeyin, the IGP further instructed all Commissioners of Police and tactical commanders to ensure “the lawful and professional protection of vulnerable communities and immediately scale up visible policing through expanded deployment of personnel nationwide to deter crime and reassure the public of their safety.”
Addressing the ongoing implementation of the Presidential Directive on the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties, Hundeyin said the IGP described the measure as essential for strengthening frontline policing operations.
“So far, 11,566 officers have been withdrawn from VIP security assignments. These personnel will be promptly redeployed to bolster nationwide policing efforts,” he quoted the IGP as saying. Reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Police Force to national security, Hundeyin added that the IGP assured Nigerians that the Force “will continue to intensify all necessary measures to ensure a safe, secure, and peaceful environment for every citizen, resident or visitor.”
