The Nigerian military authorities have constituted a panel to investigate about 20 officers detained over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Sahara Reporters had earlier reported that 16 officers, including a Brigadier-General and a Colonel, were arrested in late September following intelligence that they had been holding secret meetings and expressing dissatisfaction with the administration.
A senior military source, who spoke to Premium Times, confirmed the arrests and disclosed that additional suspects had been picked up since the initial report.
“The report is true,” the source said. “More have been picked up since the initial arrests.”
According to the source, the detained officers allegedly planned a violent coup in which some top government officials were marked for assassination.
“The alleged coup plotters had tentatively picked a date for the coup and were continuing consultations when the plot leaked,” the officer said.
The source added that the revelation of the plot caused panic within government circles, prompting the cancellation of the National Independence Day parade on October 1.
“The coup plot caused panic in government after it was leaked because the military high command had repeatedly assured the government of the military’s loyalty to the administration and civil authorities,” the source said. “Out of that panic, the government cancelled the National Independence Day parade on October 1 because it was a military ceremony and they did not want to take any risk.”
An investigative panel has since been established by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to probe what authorities officially described as “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
Although details about the panel’s membership remain undisclosed, multiple sources confirmed that the committee includes representatives from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS). The panel, according to insiders, has been meeting in Abuja for over a week.
While the Defence Headquarters did not directly confirm the alleged coup attempt, its spokesperson, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, stated on October 4 that sixteen officers were under investigation for indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
However, several military officials privately confirmed that the arrests were linked to a planned attempt to depose the Tinubu administration.
“The intelligence pointed to plans to destabilise the government,” one official said. “Some officers were reportedly holding meetings to discuss a possible takeover.”
The development follows growing public discontent over economic hardship and came shortly before a military coup in Madagascar, which became Africa’s ninth successful coup since 2020.
Following the arrests, sources said the military scaled down ceremonial activities for security reasons. “Apart from the Guard of Honour at the airport, there have been no major parades since the alleged plot was uncovered,” another officer disclosed.
The detained officers are reportedly being held at a military facility in Abuja.
Defence spokesperson Brigadier-General Gusau had earlier attributed the detained officers’ grievances to “career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.”
In his statement on October 4, Gusau said: “Upon completion of the investigation, indicted officers will face the full military disciplinary process in accordance with established procedures to ensure accountability and preserve professionalism within the Armed Forces.”
He did not respond to messages seeking additional comments on the alleged coup plot.
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