At least sixteen senior military officers have been detained by Nigeria’s Armed Forces amid allegations that they planned to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government in a coup d’état.
While the official military statement cited the arrests as the result of a routine exercise addressing issues of indiscipline and repeated failures in promotion exams, insiders confirmed the true cause was a foiled coup plan.
The detained officers, ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier-General, were apprehended following intelligence operations led by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and allied agencies.A senior DIA official disclosed that the officers, led by an Army Brigadier-General, had been holding clandestine meetings to strategize removing President Tinubu and key government officials from power.
Their plan allegedly included launching the coup during the October 1st Independence Day military parade, an event cancelled by the government at the advice of the National Security Adviser and military chiefs due to the credible threats uncovered.
It further revealed that the plan involved an attack targeting the President and other top politicians during the parade to swiftly install a military government. The arrested officers are currently held in detention under the jurisdiction of the DIA as investigations continue.Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the country has experienced five successful military coups.
Allegations of corruption within the military have recently contributed to unrest and disillusionment among some officers and soldiers, which observers say may have fueled the motivations behind this attempted coup.
The Armed Forces of Nigeria has emphasized its commitment to maintaining discipline and order, aiming to reassure the public as investigations proceed and the military works to prevent any further threats to national stability.
