At least sixteen senior military officers have been arrested by the Armed Forces of Nigeria over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, multiple sources have revealed.
Although the military publicly claimed the arrests were linked to disciplinary breaches and dissatisfaction over promotion stagnation, insiders say the detentions were prompted by intelligence of an attempted coup.
In an official statement, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said the officers were detained following a “routine military exercise” related to indiscipline and violation of service regulations, adding that their frustration stemmed from “repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation.”
However, a senior Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) official disclosed that the group, allegedly led by a Brigadier General, had begun secret meetings aimed at seizing power from civilian authorities.
“The sixteen officers were plotting a coup. The statement released by the military was diplomatic. They had been holding covert meetings to overthrow the President and top officials. They’re all within the ranks of Captain to Brigadier-General and are currently in detention at the DIA,” the source said.
Another security source claimed that intelligence reports of the planned coup led to the cancellation of the Independence Day parade scheduled for October 1, marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
“Yes, the arrests were made because they planned to strike during the parade. Their plan was to open fire on the President and senior politicians during the event. The parade was cancelled on the advice of the National Security Adviser and service chiefs,” the source added.
The arrests have reportedly heightened tensions within military circles, as authorities continue to interrogate the suspects to determine the extent of the plot.
Nigeria has witnessed five successful military coups since independence in 1960. Analysts have often linked rising discontent among officers to corruption, poor welfare, and dissatisfaction with political leadership.
