Fresh details have surfaced regarding the identities of at least 16 Nigerian military officers allegedly linked to the foiled coup attempt of October 1, shedding more light on the ongoing investigation within the armed forces.
According to reports, 14 of the detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, including one Brigadier General, one Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, and one Lieutenant.
The remaining two are officers from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force, a Lieutenant Commander and a Squadron Leader, respectively, both of whom hold ranks equivalent to that of a Major.
Investigations reveal that most of the Army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, while one serves in the Signals Corps and another in the Ordnance Corps.
Many of the detainees reportedly graduated from the 56th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), which ran from September 2004 to October 2008.
Six officers from this course were 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 comes from the South West.
The alleged coup attempt reportedly aimed to overthrow the government and assassinate key national leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among others.
However, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the reports as false and misleading, maintaining that there was no coup plot and warning against spreading unfounded claims capable of destabilizing national security.
The Presidency also clarified that President Tinubu’s recent reshuffle of the military hierarchy was a routine administrative decision carried out in line with his constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Weeks after the coup scare, President Tinubu made sweeping changes in the military leadership.
He dismissed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and appointed General Olufemi Oluyede as his replacement.
In the same move, Major General Waidi Shaibu became the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke was appointed Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas took over as Chief of Naval Staff. Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his role as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
While these appointments fueled speculation about links to the alleged coup, the Presidency insisted they were purely administrative and unrelated to any plot.
Military sources say the number of detained officers may have increased as investigations continue.
Reports by Sahara Reporters alleged that, as part of the probe, operatives raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, arresting his brother and former personal assistant.
Sylva, through his spokesperson Julius Bokoru, denied any connection to the alleged coup, stating that he was abroad for medical treatment in the UK and en route to Malaysia for a conference at the time.
Bokoru added that individuals believed to be Defence Headquarters operatives conducted the raid without providing any explanation.
