A deepening wave of suspicion has swept through Nigeria’s military establishment as chilling details continue to emerge over the alleged coup plot that has led to the secret detention of at least 16 senior military officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
According to a PREMIUM TIMES investigation quoting top military sources, 14 of the detained officers belong to the Nigerian Army, while two others are drawn from the Navy and Air Force, respectively.
Among the Army suspects are a Brigadier General, a Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, and a Lieutenant. The Navy and Air Force are represented by a Lieutenant Commander and a Squadron Leader, both equivalent in rank to an Army Major.
An Elite Network Under Suspicion
Sources revealed that 12 of the 14 Army officers are from the Infantry Corps, the battle-hardened backbone of the military trained for ground combat operations. One officer serves in the Signals Corps, which oversees communications, and another in the Ordnance Corps, responsible for the storage and maintenance of weaponry and military hardware.
Investigations also indicate that most of the detained officers belong to the 56 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) — a group that trained between September 2004 and October 2008. Six of them, including four Lieutenant Colonels and two Majors, were reportedly among the first to be picked up in the early wave of arrests.
Other suspects are linked to the 44th, 47th, 59th, and 60th Regular Courses, as well as Short Service Courses 38 and 43.
Military insiders disclosed that 15 of the 16 officers hail from Nigeria’s North-central, North-east, and North-west zones, with the only exception being a Lieutenant from the South-west, the most junior among them.
The ‘Bloody’ Plot That Shook Aso Rock
The alleged coup, according to PREMIUM TIMES, was not a mere whisper of discontent—it was a meticulously planned insurrection that sought to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, among other top government officials.
A military source described the plan as “bloody and coordinated,” adding that intelligence operatives intercepted sensitive communications and movements that prompted immediate arrests.
Though the Defence Headquarters did not categorically confirm the coup allegation, it described the ongoing probe as “a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism within the ranks.”
A Sudden Shake-Up at the Top
Barely weeks after the first arrests, President Tinubu announced a sweeping reshuffle of the Armed Forces’ high command, an action that caught many political observers off guard.
In what was widely interpreted as a decisive response to the brewing crisis, General Olufemi Oluyede, the former Chief of Army Staff, was elevated to Chief of Defence Staff, while Major-General Waidi Shaibu became the new Chief of Army Staff.
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas were appointed Chiefs of Air and Naval Staff, respectively.
However, Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The presidency offered no official link between the leadership shake-up and the alleged coup, but security analysts insist the timing was far from coincidental.
Covert Arrests and Political Ripples
The dragnet has since expanded. Security sources confirmed that more arrests are being made quietly as investigators trace connections among officers and possible civilian collaborators.
In a startling twist, Sahara Reporters revealed that operatives allegedly from the Defence Headquarters raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, arresting his brother, who serves as his personal aide.
Mr. Sylva swiftly distanced himself from the coup allegations. Through his spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, the former governor stated:
“Chief Sylva has no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or logistics—with any such plot.”
Bokoru added that his principal was abroad for medical treatment and scheduled to attend a conference in Malaysia.
He described the raid as “unprovoked and unjustified,” lamenting that no explanation was given for the intrusion.
Unanswered Questions
As investigations deepen, the nation watches closely. Why were the arrests handled in secrecy? How deep does the alleged network of conspirators go? And what does this mean for the stability of the Armed Forces?
For now, one fact remains clear — Nigeria’s barracks are restless, and Aso Rock is on high alert as the shadows of an aborted coup continue to darken the corridors of power.
