ALLEGED COUP PLOT: 15 More Officers Arrested As Number In Detention Exceed 40.

Army.

Fresh developments have shown that the military has arrested another 15 officers of different ranks over an alleged coup plot against the Federal Government, raising the total number of detained officers to more than 40.

Sources revealed that the new arrests came after information was uncovered during the questioning of the first 16 officers who were earlier detained. Those officers reportedly detailed the expected roles of the newly arrested individuals in what investigators described as a “grand plot.”

According to the sources, security agencies are currently analysing communication records between the suspects, suggesting that more arrests may follow as the probe continues.

Investigations confirmed that the first batch of 16 detained officers includes:

1 Brigadier General

1 Colonel

4 Lieutenant Colonels

5 Majors

2 Army Captains

1 Lieutenant Commander (Navy)

1 Squadron Leader (Air Force)

1 Army Lieutenant

Their names were listed as:

Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)

Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (Niger, 47th Course)

Lt Col S. Bappah (Bauchi, 56th Course)

Lt Col A.A. Hayatu (Kaduna, 56th Course)

Lt Col Dangnan (Plateau, 56th Course)

Lt Col M. Almakura (Nasarawa, 56th Course)

Major A.J. Ibrahim (Gombe, 56th Course)

Major M.M. Jiddah (Katsina, 56th Course)

Major M.A. Usman (FCT, 60th Course)

Major D. Yusuf (Gombe, 59th Course)

Major I. Dauda (Jigawa, DSSC 38)

Captain I. Bello (DSSC 43)

Captain A.A. Yusuf

Lieutenant S.S. Felix (DSSC)

Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi (Navy)

Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu (Air Force)

Most of the detained personnel, according to insiders, serve in the Infantry Corps, Signals Corps, and Ordnance Corps.

Insiders disclosed that a large amount of money has been traced to the suspected network behind the alleged coup attempt. A joint investigation involving the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other agencies reportedly connected the funds to a former governor who also once served as a minister of state.

Sources stated that the detained officers have been cooperating with investigators, providing details of how they were recruited and what roles they were expected to play.

Although the Defence Headquarters has yet to officially comment on the new arrests, military sources said the matter is being handled discreetly until investigations are completed.

This development follows three weeks after the Defence Headquarters confirmed that 16 officers had been arrested for “acts of indiscipline” and breaches of service regulations.

At the time, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, explained that the arrests were made during a routine military operation and that the officers’ grievances were mainly due to stagnation in their careers and repeated failures in promotion examinations.

“Some of the apprehended officers had been under jurisdiction for various offenses, either awaiting or undergoing trial. Their conduct was deemed incompatible with the standards of military service,” Gusau said.

He added that the detained officers would face appropriate military disciplinary measures after investigations are concluded, emphasising that the operation was designed to ensure order, discipline, and loyalty across the force.

“The armed forces will not tolerate any behaviour that undermines the integrity of the institution or threatens its constitutional role under democratic authority,” he stated.

Gusau reaffirmed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully dedicated to their constitutional duties and uphold the highest standards of professionalism.