Fresh revelations have emerged about the identities of at least 16 Nigerian military officers currently being detained over an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
According to reliable military sources, fourteen of the detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, while two others serve in the Navy and the Air Force respectively. The list includes a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant. The naval and air force officers are said to hold the ranks of Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Leader—equivalent to the rank of Major in the Army.
Further details show that 12 of the Army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, the military’s main combat unit. One officer is from the Signals Corps, which handles communications, while another serves in the Ordnance Corps, responsible for the maintenance and management of weapons and equipment.
Most of the Army officers are reportedly members of the 56 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), trained between 2004 and 2008. Six of them—four lieutenant colonels and two majors—are said to be among the first group arrested. Others are drawn from NDA’s 44th, 47th, 59th, and 60th Regular Courses, as well as the 38th and 43rd Short Service Commission Courses. The course affiliations of two officers and those of the naval and air force personnel remain unconfirmed.
Insiders also revealed that 15 of the 16 detained officers hail from Nigeria’s North-central, North-east, and North-west regions, while the only officer from the South-west is the most junior among them—a lieutenant.
Plot and Fallout
Military sources said the alleged plot, which was foiled in late September, involved plans to assassinate top government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Although the Defence Headquarters has not directly confirmed the coup attempt, it stated that the probe of the officers is part of “routine internal disciplinary measures to uphold professionalism within the ranks.”
Tinubu’s Security Shake-Up
Weeks after the reported plot was uncovered, President Tinubu carried out a sweeping reorganization of the military high command. He replaced the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, with General Olufemi Oluyede. Major General Waidi Shaibu became the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke was appointed Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral Idi Abbas took charge as Chief of Naval Staff.
Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, was the only top officer retained. The presidency, however, did not publicly connect the changes to the alleged coup plot.
Covert Arrests and Expanding Probe
Security insiders disclosed that while 16 officers were initially picked up, the number of suspects has since increased as investigations deepen. The arrests were said to have been conducted discreetly, with some officers taken into custody from their duty posts and others from their homes.
In a related twist, the military reportedly raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, arresting his brother and personal aide. However, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, denied any connection to the alleged plot, confirming that his principal was abroad on medical and official engagements when the incident occurred.
Bokoru said those who raided the house “were believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters,” adding that “no explanation was given for the invasion.”
He maintained that the former minister “has no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or logistics—with any such plot.”
As the investigation continues, security analysts say the development marks one of the most significant internal crises within the Nigerian Armed Forces in recent years, coming at a time the Tinubu administration is facing mounting political and economic challenges.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
