Fresh details have emerged about the 16 military officers currently in detention over their alleged involvement in the foiled coup attempt of October 1.
According to reliable military sources, 14 of the detained officers belong to the Nigerian Army. They include one brigadier general, one colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and one lieutenant. The remaining two are a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy and a Squadron Leader from the Air Force — both equivalent in rank to major.
Reports indicate that most of the Army officers are from the Infantry Corps, while one each is from the Signals and Ordnance Corps. Many of them are graduates of the 56th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), which ran from September 2004 to October 2008. Six officers from this group were reportedly among the first to be arrested.
Sources further disclosed that 15 of the detained officers hail from the North Central, North East, and North West regions, while one lieutenant is from the South West.
The Foiled Coup Plot
The Nigerian Army’s investigation into the alleged coup attempt followed intelligence reports suggesting discontent within the ranks. Sources claimed the plotters intended to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed such reports as false and misleading. The Presidency also clarified that the recent reshuffling of service chiefs by President Tinubu was a routine administrative exercise in line with his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief.
Tinubu’s Unexpected Shake-Up
In the weeks following the alleged coup attempt, President Tinubu made a sweeping change in military leadership. He relieved the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, of his duties and appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as his replacement.
Other appointments included 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 position as Chief of Defence Intelligence. The Presidency, however, maintained that these changes were not connected to the alleged coup.
Expanding Investigation
Although 16 officers have been officially detained, sources say the number of suspects has increased as investigations continue. Sahara Reporters claimed that military personnel raided the Abuja home of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva and arrested his brother, who also served as his personal assistant.
Sylva, through his spokesperson Julius Bokoru, denied any involvement, stating that he was abroad for medical treatment in the UK and was preparing to travel to Malaysia for a conference. Bokoru added that operatives “believed to be from the Defence Headquarters” carried out the raid without explanation.
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