Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing investigation into the alleged coup plot involving senior military officers, as intelligence sources have traced ₦11 billion to multiple bank accounts linked to a detained Army Colonel now at the centre of the probe.
According to high-ranking security officials familiar with the investigation, the discovery further connects the officer—who reportedly served directly under a Brigadier General also under scrutiny—to the suspected plot to overthrow the government.
“When interrogated, the colonel claimed that the funds belonged to a former governor, whom he described as his business partner. He insisted the money was meant for a legitimate business transaction,” a senior officer disclosed.
Widening Investigation
The colonel’s arrest forms part of a broader probe launched after intelligence reports in August 2024 suggested that some serving military officers were allegedly coordinating plans to topple the Bola Tinubu administration.
Security sources revealed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) began tracking the officers’ communications, financial transactions, and foreign links months before their eventual arrests.
“The coup plotters have been under the radar since August 2024, when the service got wind of the plot,” one official said. “They mapped out three different times to strike — including June 12 (Democracy Day) and October 1 (Independence Day) this year. They met in the UK and Turkey, but the DIA gathered evidence patiently before making its move.”
Presidential Security Adjustments
Multiple security insiders confirmed that intelligence gathered during surveillance prompted a review of President Tinubu’s movements earlier this year. His frequent stays in Lagos and reduced presence in Abuja were reportedly part of precautionary measures.
“The first countermeasure taken was to alter the President’s movement pattern,” another source explained. “There was credible intelligence that the coup would be executed on October 1, which is why the Independence Day celebration was cancelled. The operation had been monitored for over a year, and the DIA had full access to their communications.”
Shake-Up in the Military Leadership
Last Friday, President Tinubu announced the dismissal of all service chiefs, replacing them in what sources described as a decisive response to internal security concerns.
It was gathered that the removal of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, was linked to what senior officials termed a “management error” after the Defence Headquarters publicly confirmed the arrest of 16 officers—information that was meant to remain classified.
“Information about the arrest of the 16 officers shouldn’t have been made public,” one security source said. “The situation required discreet management to avoid giving justification for the alleged plot or creating panic. The careless disclosure made the international community question Nigeria’s internal stability, and that misstep necessitated the change in leadership.”
To avoid speculation that Gen. Musa was being singled out, the President reportedly opted for a wholesale replacement of all service chiefs to “mask the disciplinary intent” and project a unified front within the Armed Forces.
Muted Public Reactions Amid Ongoing DIA Operations
While the Defence Headquarters has officially denied that any coup attempt took place, ongoing DIA operations continue to suggest otherwise.
Two weeks ago, online platform Sahara Reporters broke the story that 16 military officers had been detained in connection with the plot, a report later corroborated by Premium Times and Daily Trust.
The probe has since widened, with fresh raids—including Tuesday’s search of the Abuja residence of former governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva—linked to the same investigation.
According to Premium Times, 15 of the detained officers hail from northern states including Niger, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau, and the FCT, raising concerns about potential ethnic and regional interpretations of the arrests.
A top security source told Advocate News Nigeria that the restrained communication from military authorities was deliberate.
“Officials are being extremely cautious to prevent political tension or ethnic suspicion within the ranks,” the source said. “Publicising the identities of the suspects could be misinterpreted as a targeted move against northern officers, which could destabilise the delicate power balance in the Armed Forces.”
Air Force, Army Move to Stabilize Ranks
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the redeployment of 19 senior officers and the reassignment of six others to inter-service and defence institutions as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency under its new leadership.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF said the restructuring aligns with the leadership vision of the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, to strengthen coordination and readiness in response to national security challenges.
“This reorganisation aims to improve decision-making, enhance synergy across commands, and reinforce operational effectiveness,” Ejodame stated.
A day earlier, the Nigerian Army also carried out a major shake-up among its top commanders, signalling what security observers describe as a broad effort to restore confidence and stability in the military amid one of its most politically sensitive investigations in years.
