At least 35 Nigerian military officers are reportedly in detention over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
This figure contrasts sharply with a Monday statement from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), which claimed only 16 officers were under investigation for involvement in the coup attempt.
The DHQ had previously announced that the indicted officers would face military judicial panels. The statement, titled “UPDATE ON DISCIPLINARY CASES INVOLVING SIXTEEN OFFICERS INVESTIGATED FOR INDISCIPLINE, BREACH OF SERVICE REGULATIONS”, was signed by Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.
> “It would be recalled that the Defence Headquarters issued a press statement in October 2025 regarding the arrest of sixteen officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations,” the statement read.
However, top military sources revealed to SaharaReporters that the actual number of detained personnel is 35, including 33 northerners and one operative from a paramilitary agency.
Composition of the detained officers:
Senior Officers: 1 Brigadier General, 2 Colonels, 5 Lieutenant Colonels, 1 Wing Commander (Air Force equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel), 8 Majors, 1 Lieutenant Commander (Navy equivalent of Major), 2 Squadron Leaders, 5 Captains, 1 Lieutenant.
Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs): 1 Warrant Officer, 5 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, 2 Lance Corporals.
Among the detainees are Captain A. Yusuf from Osun State and Squadron Leader Zuzu, a senior Air Force officer from Bayelsa State. The remaining 33 are reportedly from northern Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Defence Headquarters keeps deceiving Nigerians. The total number of officers in detention is 35, yet they continue to claim 16. Some officers were allegedly coerced to admit to the alleged plot under duress,” a source said.
“Some were even invited from outside Nigeria while attending military courses.”
Efforts to reach Major General Uba for comment were unsuccessful, with calls and messages unreturned as of publication.
The arrests date back to October 2025, when the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigeria’s primary military intelligence body, reportedly detained officers over the alleged plot. The DIA is responsible for intelligence gathering to counter security threats and support military operations, including counter-terrorism and anti-insurgency efforts.
Several detained officers reportedly fell ill while in custody, with two collapsing due to worsening conditions. Sources allege that the detainees were moved from the initial DIA facility to a poorly ventilated underground cell in Abuja, raising concerns over inhumane treatment and prolonged incommunicado detention. Families have complained about being denied access to lawyers and visits.
The case has drawn political attention after reports that military operatives raided 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 to the matter politically motivated.
Despite initial denials, Monday’s DHQ statement formally acknowledges that allegations of plotting to overthrow the government were part of the findings against some of the detained officers.
