An interim investigation into the October 2025 alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified a serving Army Colonel as the principal coordinator of the conspiracy to overthrow the democratically-elected government, an official report has disclosed.
The dossier, sighted by The sources on Tuesday, reveals that the unnamed colonel organised and directed a network of disaffected military officers spanning the Army, Navy and Air Force in what security sources described as a structured plan to seize power.
Plot and Planning Uncovered
According to the interim report, the colonel — reportedly frustrated by repeated failures in his promotion — mobilised like-minded officers and assigned them to undertake surveillance of strategic national assets, including the Presidential Villa, major barracks in Abuja, and international airports.
Investigators say early operational planning included surveying key installations and covert communications among the group before security agencies uncovered the conspiracy.
Arrests and Military Response
In October 2025, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed the detention of a number of officers — from Captain to Brigadier-General — over “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.” At the time, the then Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau (retd.), dismissed reports of a coup attempt as internal disciplinary issues.
However, updates from the current Director of Defence Information, Major-General Samaila Uba, indicate the investigation has since been concluded in line with military protocols, with the report forwarded to the “appropriate superior authority” for further action.
Officers Implicated
The interim report specifically lists 16 officers currently in custody in connection with the plot. The ranks include:
1. Brigadier-General M. A. Sadiq
2. Colonel M. A. Maaji
3. Lieutenant Colonels S. Bappah,
4. A. A. Hayatu,
5. P. Dangnap,
6. M. Almakura
7 .Majors A. J. Ibrahim,
8. M. M. Jiddah,
9. M. A. Usman,
10. D. Yusuf
11. Captains I. Bello,
12. A. A. Yusuf
13. Lieutenant S. S. Felix
14. Lieutenant Commander D. B.
15.Abdullahi (Navy)
16.Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (Air Force)
17. Major I. Dauda
Security sources added that the foiled plot was scheduled for 25 October 2025, and if successful, would have targeted the President, Vice President, ministers and service chiefs.
Next Steps
According to military officials, the officers implicated in the alleged conspiracy are expected to face trial before a military judicial panel, aligned with established military legal procedure.
Background and Wider Context
The military probe into the alleged coup has been ongoing since late 2025 amid earlier media reports that linked the arrests to secret meetings among serving officers and even to the cancellation of Nigeria’s Independence Day parade.
In related developments reported earlier, intelligence sources allegedly tracked substantial funds and suspicious financial activity connected with elements under investigation, though official sources have described such wider links in varying terms.