By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – Sixteen senior military officers have been arrested by the Armed Forces of Nigeria for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, multiple intelligence sources have confirmed. The detained officers, reportedly led by a Brigadier General, were apprehended following a covert operation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and allied security agencies.
A coup d’état is an organised attempt by a military faction or political elites to remove a sitting government. Although the military recently described the arrests as part of “a routine exercise” linked to “indiscipline” and “promotion examination failures”, top security officials have disclosed that the detentions were directly connected to a foiled coup plan.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, had earlier issued a statement describing the incident in vague terms. He said the arrests were a result of breaches of military service regulations and misconduct, stressing that the affected officers had expressed grievances over career stagnation.
However, senior intelligence sources told SaharaReporters that the detained officers were engaged in secret meetings aimed at toppling the current administration. “The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in their statement,” an official involved in the arrest said. “They had started holding meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials. They were picked from different parts of the country and are currently being held at the DIA facility.”
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According to the online paper, the officers are said to be of varying ranks, from Captain to Brigadier General. Their alleged plan involved carrying out the coup on 1 October 2025 during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day parade in Abuja. According to intelligence reports, the conspirators intended to target the President and other top political leaders during the parade.
Security sources added that the government’s decision to cancel the traditional Independence Day parade was directly linked to the intelligence received on the planned coup. “That was the main reason why the parade was cancelled,” another source said. “The National Security Adviser and service chiefs advised the government to call off the event to prevent a potential attack.”
Further investigations have revealed that most of the detained officers are attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which is currently headed by Nuhu Ribadu. ONSA staff are usually drawn from various security and paramilitary agencies, including the military and intelligence services.
Another report by SaharaReporters claimed one of the key figures in the alleged coup plot has been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura, a nephew of Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, former Governor of Nasarawa State and current Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). The accused officer had recently returned from a special combat course in China before being posted to ONSA.
A source explained that there are two brothers in the army bearing the Al-Makura surname, both Lieutenant Colonels. One serves as the Commanding Officer of the 343 Artillery Regiment in Elele, Rivers State, and was briefly detained but later cleared of involvement. The accused Al-Makura is described as a “no-nonsense infantry officer” with a reputation in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“Most of the accused are from Northern Nigeria,” the source said. “Some of the younger officers were deceived into joining the plot. None of them has been allowed to contact their families since their arrest.”
Nigeria has experienced five successful military coups since its independence in 1960, the last being in 1993. In recent years, concerns have grown over internal discontent within the armed forces, with several officers expressing frustration over corruption, poor welfare, and career stagnation.
The military high command has not officially confirmed the coup allegations, but investigations are ongoing. The incident underscores rising tensions within the security establishment amid growing political and economic pressures.
