The Nigerian military is currently detaining at least sixteen senior officers across multiple service branches over an alleged conspiracy to destabilize President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The exclusive report, based on information from military investigators, names a brigadier general as the alleged ringleader and provides comprehensive profiles of other detained personnel from the army, navy, and air force.
While the Defence Headquarters has not officially confirmed these detentions, an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that a comprehensive investigation is underway within military intelligence circles. The report also indicated that military authorities have chosen to handle the matter discreetly to avoid causing unnecessary alarm.
Breakdown of Detained Officers
According to the PREMIUM TIMES investigation, fourteen of the sixteen detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, with the remaining two representing the Nigerian Navy and Air Force. The report also revealed that twelve of the fourteen army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, the army’s primary combat unit responsible for ground warfare operations.
One officer comes from the Signals Corps, which handles military communications, while another serves in the Ordnance Corps, responsible for weapons and equipment procurement and maintenance, the PREMIUM TIMES report detailed.
The Alleged Ringleader
PREMIUM TIMES identified the highest-ranking officer in detention as Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, with service number N/10321. According to their sources, he is suspected of being the mastermind behind the alleged plot.
The general from Nasarawa State, born on 3 January 1974, is a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s Regular Course 44. The PREMIUM TIMES investigation showed he rose through the ranks, becoming colonel in 2015 and brigadier general in 2019.
The report also said this isn’t the first time Brigadier General Sadiq has faced serious allegations. According to PREMIUM TIMES, he was previously detained in October 2024 for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives, selling of military equipment, including generator sets and operational vehicles to scrap yards.”
Senior Command Involvement
The investigation identified Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (service number N/10668) as the second-highest-ranking officer detained. PREMIUM TIMES reported that investigators suspect the 49-year-old from Niger State served as a key strategist for the alleged plot, though the publication noted it couldn’t independently verify this claim.
According to the PREMIUM TIMES profile, Colonel Ma’aji was the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion in Okitipupa, Ondo State, at the time of his detention. The report also mentioned his previous experience in the Niger Delta, having participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II and served as Commander of Operation Delta Safe.
Concentration of Mid-Level Officers
A significant pattern emerging from the PREMIUM TIMES investigation shows numerous detained officers belonging to the NDA’s 56 Regular Course, who began training in 2004.
This group includes Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah from Bauchi State, who the report identified as a member of the Army Signals Corps. His alleged involvement suggests potential focus on controlling military communication networks.
Other officers from this course named in the report include Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Hayatu from Kaduna State and Lieutenant Colonel P. Dangnap from Plateau State. According to PREMIUM TIMES, Dangnap had previously been court-martialed in 2015 alongside 29 others for offences related to the Boko Haram conflict.
The PREMIUM TIMES investigation also listed Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura from Nasarawa State and Majors A.J Ibrahim from Gombe State and M.M. Jiddah from Katsina State as members of the same course now in detention.
Broader Network of Alleged Plotters
The PREMIUM TIMES report expanded to include officers from other formations and courses. Major M.A. Usman from the Federal Capital Territory, identified as a member of the 60th Regular Course, was among those named.
Particularly noteworthy, according to the investigation, is Major D. Yusuf from Gombe State in the Ordnance Corps. PREMIUM TIMES emphasized that his alleged involvement would be crucial for any plot requiring access to military hardware and equipment.
The report also named Major I. Dauda from Jigawa State, who joined through the Direct Short Service Commission, among the detained officers.
Multi-Service Involvement
The PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed the alleged plot extended beyond the army. The publication reported that among those detained are Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi of the Nigerian Navy and Squadron Leader S.B Adamu of the Nigerian Air Force.
According to the report, the inclusion of navy and air force personnel at the rank of major/equivalent suggests the alleged plot sought a multi-service dimension, though the extent of their alleged involvement remains unclear.
Additional Detainees
PREMIUM TIMES stated that while details remain limited, several other officers are also in detention, including Captain Ibrahim Bello, Captain A.A Yusuf, and Lieutenant S.S Felix. The report indicated that military investigators are continuing to gather information about their specific alleged roles.
Political and Security Context
The PREMIUM TIMES investigation comes amid significant economic challenges and social tensions in Nigeria. The report contextualizes these developments within Nigeria’s history of military interventions, noting that while the country has maintained democratic rule since 1999, it has experienced several alleged coup attempts during this period.
The Defence Headquarters has maintained official silence on the specific allegations. In a previous statement regarding subdued Independence Day celebrations, Director of Defence Media Major General Edward Buba said, “The military remains unwavering in its commitment to the constitutional authority of Nigeria,” without directly addressing coup rumours.
Ongoing Investigation
According to PREMIUM TIMES, military investigators are continuing their probe into the alleged plot. The publication’s sources indicate that the investigation represents the most significant internal challenge to military cohesion under the Tinubu administration to become public.
Standard procedure in such cases, as outlined in the report, would involve a thorough military investigation followed by potential court-martial proceedings under the Armed Forces Act.
PREMIUM TIMES noted that attempts to obtain official comment from the Defence Headquarters regarding the specific detentions were unsuccessful at the time of publication. The military’s continued silence on the matter, according to security analysts cited in the report, reflects the sensitivity of the situation and the potential impact on military morale and public confidence.
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