More details emerge on foiled coup as 16 military officers remain in custody
Fresh revelations have surfaced regarding the identities of 16 Nigerian military officers detained over their alleged involvement in the foiled October 1 coup plot.
According to credible sources, 14 of the suspects are personnel of the Nigerian Army, comprising one brigadier general, one colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and one lieutenant. The remaining two officers include a Navy lieutenant commander and an Air Force squadron leader—both equivalent in rank to major.
Reports by Premium Times indicate that most of the Army officers are from the Infantry Corps, with one each from the Signals and Ordnance Corps. Many of the detainees belong to the 56th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), trained between September 2004 and October 2008. Six from this group were reportedly among the first to be arrested.
Fifteen of the detained officers are from the North Central, North East, and North West geopolitical zones, while one lieutenant hails from the South West.
The Foiled Coup Plot
Sources disclosed that the conspirators allegedly planned to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, among others.
However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed reports of any coup attempt as “false and misleading.” The Presidency also described President Tinubu’s appointment of new service chiefs as a routine administrative exercise within his constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief.
Tinubu’s Sudden Shake-Up
Weeks after the alleged plot, President Tinubu surprised many by replacing 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 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.
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Although the Presidency did not link these appointments to the alleged coup, insider reports suggest that the list of detained officers continues to grow.
In a related development, Sahara Reporters disclosed that military operatives raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva, arresting his brother, who also serves as his personal assistant.
Sylva, through his spokesperson Julius Bokoru, denied any involvement in the coup, stating he was in the UK for medical reasons and preparing to attend a conference in Malaysia. Bokoru claimed that “individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters” conducted the raid without providing any explanation.
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