Revealed: Identities of 16 Nigerian Military Officers Detained Over Alleged Coup Plot — The Bureau News Nigeria News Today
By Andrew Haruna | The Bureau News
Fresh details have emerged about the identities and backgrounds of 16 Nigerian military officers currently in detention over an alleged coup plot that reportedly targeted top government officials, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, 14 of the detained officers belong to the Nigerian Army, while the remaining two are from the Navy and the Air Force, respectively. The arrests, which began in late September, are part of what military insiders described as a sweeping internal probe into alleged subversive activities within the armed forces.
Breakdown of the Detained Officers
Among the Army suspects are a Brigadier General, a Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, and one Lieutenant. The two others include a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy (the naval equivalent of a Major) and a Squadron Leader from the Air Force (also equivalent to a Major).
Further intelligence indicates that 12 of the 14 Army officers serve in the Infantry Corps — the Army’s frontline combat arm. One belongs to the Signals Corps, responsible for communications, while another serves in the Ordnance Corps, which oversees the storage and maintenance of weapons and military hardware.
Most Officers from the 56th Regular Course
Insiders revealed that many of the detained officers were trained as part of the 56 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), which ran between September 2004 and October 2008. At least six members of this course — four lieutenant colonels and two majors — are among the first batch arrested.
The others reportedly belong to the NDA’s 44th, 47th, 59th, and 60th Regular Courses, as well as Short Service Courses 38 and 43. The affiliations of two Army officers and the naval and air force personnel remain unconfirmed.
Geopolitical Background and Regional Spread
According to multiple sources, 15 of the 16 officers hail from Nigeria’s North-Central, North-East, and North-West geopolitical zones. The only exception is a junior officer — a Lieutenant from the South-West — described as the youngest among those detained.
Inside the Alleged Coup Plot
The Bureau News gathered that the investigation stems from an alleged plan to assassinate key Nigerian leaders, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The suspected officers were reportedly rounded up after intelligence indicated possible coordination meetings between select military personnel and civilian collaborators.
While the Defence Headquarters has not denied the arrests, it maintained that the probe is a “routine internal disciplinary process” aimed at preserving professionalism within the military ranks.
Leadership Shake-up and Political Fallout
Weeks after the arrests, President Tinubu executed a major military reshuffle that saw the removal of the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who was replaced by the then Chief of Army Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede. The president also appointed 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 post as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The presidency did not officially link the leadership changes to the alleged coup plot, but military observers say the timing suggests a strategic repositioning of the nation’s security command structure.
Covert Arrests and Expanding Probe
Initially, 16 officers were detained, though sources say the number may have since increased. Sahara Reporters reported that operatives also raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, arresting his brother and aide during the operation.
However, Sylva has denied any involvement in the alleged coup plot, stating through his spokesperson Julius Bokoru that he was abroad for medical treatment and scheduled to attend a conference in Malaysia. He described the raid as “unwarranted and politically motivated.”
Military Maintains Silence
As of press time, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters has not released an official statement naming the suspects or confirming their current detention locations. The situation continues to fuel speculation about internal discontent within the military hierarchy and possible political undertones behind the investigation.
The Bureau News will continue to monitor developments surrounding the case and report updates as they emerge from verified official and security sources.
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