The last may not have been heard about the alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, which has resulted in the detention of no fewer than 42 military officers and the redeployment of some other senior ones
By Edu Abade
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to pardon criminals (some of which he reversed due to public outcry), his penchant for meddling with the affairs of the National Assembly in which every request he sent to the lawmakers was approved, his unitary government, which many have described as ruling by force and the declaration of state of emergency just to massage the ego of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have angered most Nigerians.
The president has also been accused of nursing the ambition for a life presidency by manipulating the electoral process through the bastardization of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the muzzling of the opposition parties and ensuring that governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other parties join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in an attempt to steer the country towards a one-party state, among other moves seen as threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
Following these developments, the presidency suspended Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary celebration on October 1, 2025 being the day the mutiny was alleged to be carried out. The alleged coup attempt for which over 42 military officers and a former governor of Bayelsa State have been indicted.
The figures of the indicted military officers have increased from the initial 16 to 20 and then over 42 presently. The profiles of the first 16 are Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, with service number N/10321He is suspected to be the leader of the coup plot.
As a member of Regular Course 44, Sadiq, an indigene of Nasarawa State, rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 2015 and a brigadier four years later. He belongs to the infantry corps.
Sadiq had made headlines for alleged gross misconduct. In October 2024, he was reportedly detained for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives, selling of military equipment, including generator sets and operational vehicles to scrap yards.” Among other postings, the officer served as Commander of the 3rd Brigade in Kano and Garrison Commander, 81 Division, Nigeria Army.
Another indicted officer is Colonel M.A. Ma’aji, with service number N/10668. Investigators suspected he played the role of a key strategist of the alleged coup plot.
Also, Lt. Colonel S. Bappah, a member of the Nigerian Army Signals Corps, with service number N/13036, from Bauchi State in North-East Nigeria. He was born on June 21, 1984. The 41-year-old officer started his cadet training on 27 September 2004 and completed it on October 4, 2008. He is a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA
Others are Lt. Colonel A.A. Hayatu with service number N/13038 and hails from Kaduna State.
Dangnap P. from Plateau State was born on April 1, 1986. In 2015, he was court-martialed alongside 29 others for offences related to the fight against Boko Haram, Lt. Colonel M. Almakura A member of the 56 Regular Course, Al Makura, Major A. J Ibrahim, with service number N/13065, hails from Gombe State, Major M.M. Jiddah, an indigene of Katsina State, Major M.A. Usman is a Nigerian Army major with service number N/15404, was born on April 1, 1989. He hails from the Federal Capital Territory. Major D. Yusuf, Yusuf, with service number N/14753 and a member of the Ordnance Corps, was born on May 26, 1988. As a member of the 59th Regular Course, Yusuf trained at NDA between July 7, 2007 and September 8, 2012 and hails from Gombe State. Major I. Dauda, born on November 26, 1983, joined the army through the Direct Short Service Commissions. The infantry officer, who hails from Jigawa State with service number N/13625, trained between June 5, 2009 and March 27, 2010 and is a member of Short Service Commission Course 38.
Information available to Tentacle indicate that details of the remaining five other officers were sketchy, but they are also being detained for alleged involvement in the coup plot.
The detained officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been held for over three weeks in an undisclosed Abuja facility under what sources described as “unusual and suspicious conditions.”
Family members said that they initially believed their relatives had been kidnapped, as there was no official communication from the military regarding their arrests.
“It’s been over 25 days since the 16 officers were detained in an undisclosed location. At first, we thought our brother was kidnapped before finding out what transpired from his friend who works in the NSA office,” a family member had said.
Security analysts have questioned why the Defence Intelligent Agency (DIA), an intelligence agency under the Ministry of Defence, is spearheading the investigation instead of allowing each military service to handle its personnel internally, a move seen as “highly political.”
“If the military were truly conducting a disciplinary operation, over 10,000 cases could emerge. Why only 16 officers, and why hand them to the DIA?” one retired officer asked. “This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”
Speculations are also rife that the alleged plot and subsequent arrests may have deeper political undertones, potentially involving some former office holders linked to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Also, following the alleged coup plot, the Nigerian Military reportedly raided the Abuja residence of a former Bayelsa State Governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, and is said to be currently under investigation by the DIA. Upon his absence, the operatives arrested his brother. Security sources confirmed that the army raid occurred at Sylva’s home in the Maitama area of Abuja.
According to insiders, a “special military team” carried out the operation after intelligence linked the “former South-South governor” to secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers.
“Nigerian Army special team ransacked the home of Timipre Sylva, who is believed to have fled Nigeria, one top source familiar with the development told journalists. He is the South-South former governor frequently mentioned in the case. His brother, named Paga, was picked up during the raid. The operation also extended to his Bayelsa residence”, a source said.
Another security insider said that while no official statement had been issued regarding the raid, the action was “not random” but “a direct response to intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters.”
Sylva, who served under Buhari as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023 is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 2023 Bayelsa election, which he lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had denied any involvement in the alleged coup plot.
Media Aide to Sylva, Mr Julius Boroku said in an interview that “Chief Timipre Sylva has no involvement whatsoever, either in planning or logistics, with any such plot. He is a thoroughbred democrat whose political journey has been defined by faith in democratic processes and institutions.”
Another curious twist to the alleged coup plot is that Sylva was accused of sponsoring the mutiny with N45 billion through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) leading to the arrest of the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, a move that was linked to Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, but both Ogbuku and Diri have denied the claims.
As the coup scare continues to rattle the government, the Nigeria Army hurriedly redeployed some senior officers. In a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, it said the exercise was meant to strengthen leadership, improve command efficiency and enhance ongoing operations, stressing that the deployments and appointments were with immediate effect.
According to the statement, Maj. Gen. Bamidele Alabi had been appointed as the Chief of Policy and Plans at the Army Headquarters; Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam moved to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence Operations, while Maj. Gen. Peter Mala was posted to Training and Doctrine Command as Commander.
Similarly, Maj. Gen. Samson Jiya, from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre was moved to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget.
“Others are Maj. Gen. Mayirenso Saraso from NAHFC, who was moved to the Army Headquarters Department of Operations, as Chief of Operations (Army); Maj. Gen. Isa Abdullahi from the Defence Headquarters to the Army Headquarters Department of Administration as Chief of Administration (Army); Maj. Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi from the Army Headquarters to the Department of Training to the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs as Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.
“Major General Abubakar Haruna from NAHFC deployed to the Nigerian Army Training Centre Kontagora as Commander and Major General Philip Ilodibia from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Defence Space Administration as Chief of Defence Space Administration, “the statement added.
