The Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has cancelled his trip to Abuja, Nigeria, where he was to attend the Ecowas heads of state meeting. The cancellation was in connection with speculations of an impending military coup.

State intelligence sources told Senegambia News that some heavy military weapons went missing from State Guard Amoury, fueling suspicion of a military coup.

President Jammeh, who went all the way to the airport, cancelled the Abuja trip and immediately returned to the State House.

Vice president Isatou Njie-Saidy was then immediately asked to deputise for the head of state in Abuja.

And as a result of the coup hysteria, the president immediately removed the State Guard Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Serign Modou Njie and re-assigned him to the Armed Forces headquarters along Marina Parade street in Banjul. Lt. Col. Serign Modou Njie was replaced by Major Baboucarr Sanyang, camp commander at president Jammeh's ranch in Kanilai.

Lt.Col. Njie, it could be recalled, was in 2006 arrested in connection with the March 21 alleged coup plot against the government of Yahya Jammeh. He was detained for two weeks before being released and later testified as a state witness against Captain Bunja Darboe, Tamsir Jassey and others.

Since the removal from office of Captain Yankuba Touray, fisheris minister and a host of other cabinet members three weeks ago, a Gambian called this paper saying he would not be surprised to hear coup plots in the country.