Coup Claims Rock Abuja: Military Denies, Insiders Insist 16 Officers Arrested for Plotting Overthrow
Tension has gripped the Nation’s capital following reports that 16 Senior Nigerian Military Officers, including a Brigadier-General, have been detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over what insiders allege to be an attempted coup against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the arrests, it insists the detained Officers are being investigated for disciplinary breaches and career-related grievances, not political conspiracy.
However, security sources and leaked intelligence suggest otherwise, hinting at a foiled plot that may have been timed for October 1st, during Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations.
Official Denial: “It’s About Discipline, Not Politics”
In a statement issued by Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the military clarified that the ongoing investigation concerns “issues of indiscipline and service violations.”
According to the DHQ, the Officers are being questioned for conduct inconsistent with Military ethics and repeated promotion examination failures — not for any act of treason.
“The military remains loyal to the Commander-in-Chief and the Constitution. The public should disregard speculations aimed at causing panic or disaffection within the Armed Forces,” the statement read.
The headquarters also emphasized that no officer or unit posed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, describing online coup allegations as “grossly misleading.”
The Insider Version: “It Was a Foiled Coup Attempt”
Contrary to the official position, multiple intelligence insiders quoted by Sahara Reporters allege that the 16 officers had been holding secret strategy meetings aimed at “taking power from selfish politicians.”
According to one of the sources:
“They had planned to act on October 1st during the Independence parade, but intelligence reports blew it open before they could move.”
The insider further revealed that the abrupt cancellation of the Independence Day parade may have been linked to this alleged plot, suggesting that security agencies acted swiftly to avert a possible national crisis.
The detained officers — ranging from Captains to Brigadier-General — are reportedly being held under heavy guard at the DIA headquarters in Abuja, where a joint investigative panel is conducting interrogations behind closed doors.
A Nation Haunted by History
Nigeria’s uneasy relationship with military coups remains a dark part of its political memory. Since independence in 1960, the country has witnessed five successful coups and several failed attempts, the most recent being in 1993 when the military annulled democratic rule.
Political analysts warn that even the rumor of a coup in 2025 could destabilize public confidence and unsettle investors amid growing economic hardship, insecurity, and internal military discontent.
Security expert Dr. Chidi Okoye, speaking with Global Mirror News, said:
“It’s not impossible that what began as internal grievances over promotions could have spiraled into talks of rebellion. The line between discontent and conspiracy can be thin in an institution like the military.”
Political Ripples and Questions Ahead
The alleged coup scare has sparked mixed reactions within Abuja’s political corridors.
While government loyalists dismiss it as a “fabricated distraction,” opposition figures are demanding transparency from the military, urging authorities to clarify whether the arrests are purely disciplinary or politically motivated.
Civil society groups have also called for calm, warning against media sensationalism that could inflame tension or tarnish the image of the Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, international observers — including ECOWAS and the African Union — are said to be monitoring developments closely, given the recent resurgence of coups in parts of West Africa, including Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
What Happens Next
As investigations continue, the public remains in suspense over the true nature of the arrests.
If charges of treason or mutiny eventually surface, it could mark the most serious internal security challenge of President Tinubu’s administration since he assumed office in 2023.
For now, the military hierarchy maintains that discipline and unity remain intact, even as speculation deepens about what truly transpired behind the guarded walls of the DIA.
