The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has detained at least sixteen senior military officers, ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier-General, over allegations of plotting a coup d’état to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. The arrests were carried out in a coordinated operation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and sister security services, according to top sources who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters.
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The arrests, which took place recently across various locations in the country, were initially described by military authorities as resulting from “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” However, insiders revealed the detentions were directly linked to a foiled attempt to seize power from the civilian government marking a rare and alarming development in Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
A coup d’état, by definition, involves an overt effort by military or elite government actors to forcibly remove an incumbent leadership. In this case, the officers ranging from Captain to Brigadier-General allegedly convened secret meetings to orchestrate the overthrow, with the goal of installing a military regime in place of what one source described as “selfish politicians.”
The Defence Headquarters issued a statement earlier this week attempting to downplay the incident. Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, stated:
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations. Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues. Some of the apprehended officers had been under jurisdiction for various offences, either awaiting or undergoing trial. Their conduct was deemed incompatible with the standards of military service.”
However, a senior official from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), who participated in the operation, provided a starkly different account to SaharaReporters.
“The sixteen officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in the statement released by the spokesperson. They had started holding secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials,” the source said.
“They’re all officers within the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General and are still in detention at the DIA as we speak. They were picked up recently from their various houses across the country. Their main objective was to overthrow President Tinubu and announce a military government.”
The timing of the alleged plot adds to its gravity. Sources confirmed that the arrests were a key factor behind the abrupt cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day military parade on October 1, 2025.
“Yes, they were arrested for planning to stage a coup and take over government. That was the main reason why the Independence Day parade scheduled to hold on Wednesday, October 1, as part of activities marking the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary, was cancelled,” another source explained.
“Intelligence reports showed they planned the coup during the parade. So the National Security Adviser and other service chiefs advised the Tinubu-led government to cancel the event. Their plan was to shoot at the President and other top politicians during the ceremony. The move by the military authorities to announce their arrests was to douse tension.”
The DIA source credited collaborative intelligence efforts among the agency and its sister organisations for thwarting the scheme before it could materialise. The lead plotter was identified as an Army Brigadier-General, though further details about the individuals remain undisclosed pending ongoing investigations.
This incident evokes Nigeria’s turbulent history with military interventions. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1960, the country has experienced five successful coups—in 1966 (twice), 1983, 1985, and 1993—each ushering in periods of authoritarian rule.
In recent years, there have been persistent allegations of corruption within the armed forces, with some officers and rank-and-file soldiers citing systemic graft and inequitable promotions as eroding morale and fostering disillusionment.
As the detained officers await further interrogation, the Tinubu administration has yet to issue an official response beyond the military’s initial statement.
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