The October 1 foiled coup saga has taken a new turn as more details emerge about the identities of at least 16 military officers detained over the alleged plot.
According to sources, 14 of those arrested are from the Nigerian Army, including a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and one lieutenant. The remaining two suspects — a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy and a Squadron Leader from the Air Force — hold ranks equivalent to major.
Premium Times investigations revealed that most of the detained Army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, with one each from the Signals and Ordnance Corps. Many of them are graduates of the 56th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), trained between 2004 and 2008. Six of these officers were reportedly the first to be arrested.
Sources also disclosed that 15 of the detained officers hail from the North Central, North East, and North West zones, while one officer — a lieutenant — is from the South West.
Inside the alleged coup plot
The foiled plot reportedly involved a plan to assassinate top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
However, the Defence Headquarters swiftly dismissed reports of a coup attempt as “false and misleading,” while the Presidency maintained that Tinubu’s recent changes in the military leadership were part of routine administrative adjustments within his constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief.
Tinubu’s military shake-up
Weeks after the alleged coup attempt, President Tinubu stunned the nation by replacing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, with the former Chief of Army Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede. He also appointed Major General Waidi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his post as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Although the Presidency gave no indication that the reshuffle was connected to the coup scare, insiders believe it reflects an attempt to restore confidence within the military hierarchy.
Raids and widening probe
Sources told Sahara Reporters that the number of suspects has grown as investigations widen. One of the most dramatic developments was the reported raid on the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, during which his brother and personal assistant were arrested.
Sylva, currently abroad for medical treatment, denied any link to the coup plot. His spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, confirmed the raid, describing it as an “unexplained operation” allegedly carried out by personnel believed to be from the Defence Headquarters.
With the investigation still unfolding, questions linger over the motives behind the alleged plot, the widening circle of arrests, and what it all means for Nigeria’s fragile civil-military relations.
