Abuja — Intelligence sources report that a group of disaffected military officers allegedly planned a coup to depose Bola Tinubu and assassinate several senior government figures. Among the officials named as targets were the president himself, Kashim Shettima (Vice President), Godswill Akpabio (Senate President) and Tajudeen Abbas (Speaker of the House of Representatives).
According to a senior military source speaking to the press, around 20 officers were arrested over the alleged plot, which is being described by security officials as among the most audacious threats to Nigeria’s democracy in recent years.
The same source revealed that the coup plotters had tentatively selected 25 October as the date to strike, though they were reportedly prepared to postpone if necessary.
A further allegation is that the plotters planned simultaneous assassinations of the president and the other key officials on the day they were expected to be in country, utilising informants placed inside the presidential grounds and security briefings.
Because of the security threat, government sources say the traditional Independence Day military parade, held 1 October, was cancelled — reportedly to minimise risk of a military-ceremony vulnerability.
In response, a military-led investigative panel has been established, drawing officers from the three services and intelligence agencies, to probe the detained officers and related activities.
However, the situation remains clouded by conflicting accounts: the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) of the Nigerian military has publicly refuted that any coup plot was underway, declaring that claims of large scale arrests for this reason are “malicious and unfounded.”
In a statement issued earlier this month, the DHQ spokesman, Tukur Gusau, stated that the detained officers were under investigation for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” citing grievances such as career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.
At this stage, identities of specific suspects are not publicly confirmed, and no formal indictment has been announced. Security analysts warn that the lack of transparent detail and official confirmation means the claims are not yet verifiable in full — but the implications for civil-military relations and democratic stability are significant.
What to watch:
- Whether the investigative panel issues a public report and names officers formally accused of the plot.
- How the presidency and armed forces respond to allegations of informants within the presidential villa and plans for simultaneous assassinations.
- The potential impact on Nigeria’s democratic institutions, given the precedent of past coup attempts and military interventions.
- Whether further arrests or disciplinary actions are forthcoming, and how transparent or credible they are perceived to be.
We will continue monitoring for official statements from the presidency, the Defence Headquarters, and independent verification by intelligence analysts.
Join our Channel...