Retired Army General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana has been arrested alongside several military officers and civilians for allegedly planning to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, SaharaReporters reports.
Gana, a native of Niger State and holder of the traditional title Danmagayaki of Nupe, was detained a week after his son, Lieutenant Colonel Sadiq Ibrahim-Gana, was taken into custody by military intelligence.
Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim-Gana is one of 35 military personnel currently held over suspicions of orchestrating a coup aimed at ending Nigeria’s democratic government. He previously served as the Commanding Officer of 115 Battalion in Askira, Borno State, and appears as number nine on a list of detainees obtained exclusively by SaharaReporters.
A military source told SaharaReporters that Gana’s arrest was linked to his role as godfather to Colonel Alhassan Ma’aji, the alleged mastermind of the coup, having helped Ma’aji gain admission to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1995. “Nothing beyond that connection has been traced to him,” the source added.
The source also noted that Gana’s son was primarily engaged in fighting Boko Haram in Borno State and had no proven ties to the plot. “Several civilians, including mechanics and even a Julius Berger employee, were detained under suspicions of aiding the plotters, despite being uninvolved,” the source said.
Earlier reports by SaharaReporters revealed the arrest of a police officer, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim from Taraba State, in Abuja by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) as part of the investigation.
Among those in detention are high-ranking officers across the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, including a Brigadier General, two Colonels, five Lieutenant Colonels, eight Majors, and other officers. Additionally, 10 non-commissioned officers, such as Warrant Officers and Sergeants, remain in custody. Most of the detainees are from Northern Nigeria, with a few from the FCT, Osun, and Bayelsa States.
SaharaReporters had previously reported arrests by the DIA in October 2025 over a suspected plot against the Tinubu government. While the Defence Headquarters initially denied any coup-related motive, recent statements now confirm that some detainees were under investigation for attempting to overthrow the administration.
Families of the detained officers have raised concerns about inhumane treatment, restricted access to lawyers and relatives, and transfers to poorly ventilated underground cells in Abuja. Some detainees reportedly fell ill while in custody, with two collapsing due to deteriorating conditions.
The investigation has also drawn political attention after military operatives reportedly visited the Abuja residence of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. Sylva confirmed the visit but denied any involvement, calling attempts to link him politically motivated.
