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Additional information has come to light identifying at least sixteen Nigerian military officers currently being held over an alleged plan to overthrow the government.
According to dependable military sources, fourteen of the detained personnel are from the Nigerian Army, while the remaining two are from the Navy and the Air Force.
The officers in custody reportedly include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and one lieutenant.
The naval and air force officers detained are said to hold the ranks of Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Leader, respectively, both of which are equivalent to the rank of Major in the Army.
Further information shows that twelve of the Army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, which serves as the military’s key combat arm. One officer is attached to the Signals Corps, which handles communications, and another is part of the Ordnance Corps, responsible for managing and maintaining weapons and military 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—were said to have been the first to be arrested. The rest are drawn from the NDA’s 44th, 47th, 59th, and 60th Regular Courses, as well as the 38th and 43rd Short Service Commission Courses.
The training courses attended by two of the officers, including the naval and air force personnel, are yet to be confirmed.
According to Politics Nigeria, insiders disclosed that fifteen of the sixteen officers in custody are from Nigeria’s North-Central, North-East, and North-West regions, while the only one from the South-West is reportedly the most junior, a lieutenant.
Military sources revealed that the alleged coup, which was foiled in late September, involved plans to assassinate key government figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Although the Defence Headquarters has not specifically confirmed the coup attempt, it explained that the ongoing investigation is part of “routine internal disciplinary measures to uphold professionalism within the ranks.”
A few weeks after the alleged plot was uncovered, President Tinubu undertook a major reorganisation of the military leadership.
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, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was named Chief of Naval Staff.
Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye, who serves as the Chief of Defence Intelligence, was the only senior officer who retained his position. The presidency, however, did not publicly associate these changes with the alleged coup attempt.
Security sources revealed that although sixteen officers were initially arrested, the number of suspects has reportedly increased as the investigation progresses.
The arrests were said to have been executed discreetly, with some officers detained at their duty posts and others picked up from their homes.
In a related incident, 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 link to the alleged coup plot, explaining that his principal was abroad for medical treatment and official engagements when the incident took place.
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