By Peter Dansu File Photo An interim investigation into an alleged coup plot against the administration of President Bola Tinubu has revea...
By Peter Dansu
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| File Photo |
An interim investigation into an alleged coup plot against the administration of President Bola Tinubu has revealed that only one of the 16 military officers currently in custody is of Yoruba extraction, with the majority of the suspects reportedly drawn from the northern part of the country.
According to the investigation sighted by The PUNCH, the lone Yoruba officer among the suspects is Captain A.A. Yusuf, who hails from Osun State. The remaining officers are said to be from various northern states.
The report disclosed that the alleged plot, described as well coordinated and well funded, involved officers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, and was allegedly spearheaded by a serving Army Colonel whose name was withheld. Investigators said the Colonel, reportedly embittered by repeated failures in promotion examinations, mobilised disgruntled officers across the services with the aim of overthrowing the government.
Those currently in custody include Brigadier General M.A. Sadiq, Colonel M.A. Maaji, Lieutenant Colonels S. Bappah, A.A. Hayatu, P. Dangnap, and M. Almakura, Majors A.J. Ibrahim, M.M. Jiddah, M.A. Usman, D. Yusuf, and I. Dauda, Captains I. Bello and A.A. Yusuf, Lieutenant S.S. Felix, Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi, and Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu. Two other officers, Major J.M. Ganaks and Captain G. Binuga, are said to be at large.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier, in October 2025, announced the arrest of 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of military regulations. At the time, reports by Sahara Reporters linked the arrests to secret meetings allegedly held to topple the government and the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade.
However, the then Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau (retd.), dismissed the reports, insisting the matter was purely an internal disciplinary issue. He confirmed that an investigative panel had been constituted and promised that its findings would be made public.
Providing an update on Monday, the new Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said a comprehensive investigation had since been concluded in line with military procedures and forwarded to the appropriate superior authority.
According to the interim report, the alleged coup plan had moved beyond casual dissent to early stages of operational planning. Investigators said suspects were assigned to covertly survey strategic national assets, including the Presidential Villa, the Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and international airports in Abuja and Lagos.
The report further alleged that the foiled coup was planned for October 25, 2025, and was intended to be fatal. President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, ministers, service chiefs, and other top government officials were reportedly marked for elimination.
Searches conducted on the alleged coordinator’s vehicle reportedly uncovered charms and anti government materials, while a raid on his residence in Lokogoma, Apo, Abuja, yielded sensitive documents detailing roles assigned to key actors and how prominent national figures were to be handled during the operation.
Investigators also traced financial inducements ranging between two million and five million naira allegedly paid to some officers for logistics and mobilisation. Encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Zangi were reportedly used to coordinate activities, while intelligence analysis linked the funding trail to at least one major financier now under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
One of the suspects, Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah, was identified as a key witness. The report stated that he was cooperating fully with investigators, having admitted his involvement and provided detailed information on recruitment, funding flows, and communication channels.
The Defence Headquarters has said all personnel indicted in the alleged plot will be arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel. Security sources noted that investigations have also expanded to include civilian contacts, financiers, and possible political associates, following intelligence that the name of a former minister surfaced during ongoing reviews.
While no formal charges have been filed against any civilian suspect, security officials said preventive action was necessary to dismantle the network, secure critical installations, and protect national stability.
“The threat posed was clear and immediate,” the report concluded, warning that failure to act could have had grave implications for the country.
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