PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the coup attempt by the military in Guinea-Bissau, commending the loyal troops for foiling the move.
The President spoke Tuesday evening during a telephone conversation with President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, who survived the coup attempt on his administration, same day.
President Buhari’s conversation with Embalo was captured in a statement yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu,.
He congratulated Embalo on surviving the coup attempt and commended the loyal troops in Guinea Bissau for the show of patriotism leading to their “spectacular victory” over the disloyal elements of the military.
“I look forward to working with you to strengthen the existing bilateral ties between our sisterly nations, and the defence and promotion of democracy and its values throughout the sub region, and the entire continent,” President Buhari told Embalo.
In the course of the conversation, President Embalo assured President Buhari that the situation had been brought under control and that “all is well, and normalcy fully restored”.
Embalo said many members of the security forces had been killed while repelling the attack on democracy that may have been linked to drug trafficking.
“It wasn’t just a coup. It was an attempt to kill the president, the prime minister and all the cabinet,” he said.
He added that the attack “was well-prepared and organised and could also be related to people involved in drug trafficking”, giving no further details.
“I can assure you that no camp joined this attempted coup. It was isolated. It is linked to people we have fought against,” he said, without elaborating.
He said arrests had begun of people involved, but he did not know how many.
No fewer than six people were killed in the failed, state radio said yesterday, as residents of the capital cautiously returned to daily life.
The dead included four assailants and two members of the presidential guard, it said.
But, activist lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN), has urged ECOWAS leaders to adopt preventive measures to promote the rule of law in members states.
He said this is the only way to stop coup and end impunity of political leaders and ensure full respect for citizens’ human rights including socio-economic rights.