Nigeria’s alleged coup: Identities of 16 detained officers revealed

Nigeria’s alleged coup: Identities of 16 detained officers revealed

Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing investigation into the alleged coup plot foiled on October 1, with the identities and backgrounds of 16 detained military officers now coming to light.

According to insider sources, 14 of the suspects are from the Nigerian Army, including one Brigadier General, one Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, and one Lieutenant. The remaining two suspects — a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy and a Squadron Leader from the Air Force — hold ranks equivalent to Major.

Investigations by Premium Times revealed that most of the detained Army officers are from the Infantry Corps, with one each from the Signals and Ordnance Corps. Many are graduates of the 56th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), trained between 2004 and 2008. Six of these officers were reportedly the first to be apprehended.

Geopolitical data shows that 15 of the detained officers hail from the North Central, North East, and North West zones, while one — a lieutenant — is from the South West.

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Inside the Alleged Plot

The alleged coup plot reportedly involved a plan to assassinate top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

However, the Defence Headquarters swiftly dismissed the reports as “false and misleading,” while the Presidency maintained that recent changes in military leadership were routine administrative decisions within the President’s constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief.

Tinubu’s Military Reshuffle

Weeks after the alleged plot, President Tinubu announced a sweeping military reshuffle, replacing Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede, former Chief of Army Staff.

Other appointments included Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

While the Presidency did not link the reshuffle to the coup scare, insiders suggest it may be aimed at restoring confidence within the military hierarchy.

Raids and Expanding Probe

Sources told Sahara Reporters that the number of suspects is growing as investigations widen. One of the most dramatic developments was a reported raid on the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, during which his brother and personal assistant were arrested.

Sylva, currently abroad for medical treatment, denied any involvement in the alleged plot. His spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, confirmed the raid, describing it as an “unexplained operation” allegedly carried out by personnel believed to be from the Defence Headquarters.

As the investigation continues, questions persist about the motives behind the alleged plot, the expanding circle of arrests, and the broader implications for Nigeria’s fragile civil-military relations.

Nigeria’s alleged coup: Identities of 16 detained officers revealed