SHOCKING Exclusive: Nigerian Defence Intelligence Detains Officers Over Alleged Coup Plot Against Tinubu
Top sources within the Nigerian military’s intelligence community have alleged a foiled plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu. This alleged coup attempt led to the detention of at least sixteen senior officers, including a Brigadier General. The arrested officers are currently being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
This exclusive information sharply contradicts the official statement released by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), which claimed the officers were detained over issues of indiscipline related to “repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation.”
The high-stakes intelligence operation follows weeks of heightened tension. The fact that the Nigerian Defence Intelligence Detains Officers of such high ranks underscores the seriousness of the situation, irrespective of the official narrative.
Conflicting Accounts: Why Nigerian Defence Intelligence Detains Officers
The official military spokesperson, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, previously issued an ambiguous statement to the public regarding the arrests. He noted that a “routine military exercise” led to the detention of officers over “issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
He further detailed that investigations revealed their grievances “stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations, among other issues.”
The DIA Source Counter-Claim
However, a senior official within the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) involved in the arrests provided a counter-narrative, dismissing the official statement as a diplomatic attempt to “douse tension.”
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, confirmed that the officers were, in fact, planning a coup d’état. The group, reportedly led by a serving Army Brigadier General, was holding secret meetings with the objective of removing the democratic government.
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic,” the source stated. “They’re all officers within the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General and are still in detention at DIA as we talk.”
Link to the Cancelled Independence Day Parade
Further adding weight to the coup allegations, a second source linked the attempted plot to the cancellation of the country’s October 1st Independence Day parade.
Intelligence reports allegedly indicated that the conspirators planned to use the high-profile military event to carry out the overthrow.
The source claimed: “Their plan was to shoot at the President and other top politicians during the event. So the National Security Adviser and other service chiefs asked the Tinubu-led government to cancel the parade.”
The cancellation of the traditional October 1st parade, the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary, had previously been noted without a detailed explanation, lending circumstantial credence to the intelligence reports.
Historical Context: A History of Coup Culture
Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria has experienced five successful military coups. The current administration has maintained a firm stance against any threat to democracy, with the Chief of Defence Staff repeatedly asserting the military’s “unalloyed commitment… to the protection and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.”
The recent arrests where Nigerian Defence Intelligence Detains Officers underscore the ongoing political instability and the significant internal pressures, including widespread corruption and economic hardship, that have historically fueled military interventions across the sub-region.
FAQ Section: Quick Answers
Q: Who was arrested?
A: At least sixteen senior military officers, including one Brigadier General, ranging in rank from Captain upwards.
Q: Where are the officers being detained?
A: They are currently being held in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Q: What is the official reason for the arrest?
A: The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) officially stated the arrests were due to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations” linked to failures in promotion examinations.
Q: What is the alleged reason for the arrest?
A: Sources within the DIA allege the officers were plotting a coup d’état to overthrow President Bola Tinubu and establish a military government.
Q: Why was the October 1st Independence Day parade cancelled?
A: The DIA source claims the parade was cancelled based on intelligence that the arrested officers planned to execute the coup attempt during the event.
