Investigators Uncover Detailed Plan To Capture Aso Rock, Neutralise Command Structure
Revelations of a Coordinated Takeover Plan
FRESH revelations have emerged detailing an alleged plot by suspected coup conspirators to seize control of Nigeria’s seat of power in Abuja and dismantle the country’s leadership structure.
Multiple security sources say the plan went beyond assassination attempts, outlining a coordinated military-style operation designed to capture President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other senior officials.
Also listed among high-profile targets were Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Aso Rock and Military Targets
At the centre of the alleged operation was a planned assault on Aso Rock, described by investigators as the “decapitation phase” of the plot.
Sources say selected officers were assigned to storm the Presidential Villa, capture key political figures, and neutralise resistance. Simultaneously, other units were tasked with targeting critical security leadership, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and senior police and intelligence chiefs.
The alleged plan extended to the nearby Niger Barracks, a strategic military formation overlooking the Villa. Officers were reportedly detailed to eliminate top-ranking military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs, in a bid to cripple command structures.
Seizing Strategic Installations
Investigators say the operation was designed as a rapid, multi-pronged takeover of the capital.
While one team focused on the Presidential Villa, others were assigned to seize the Armed Forces of Nigeria Complex in Garki and secure the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, effectively cutting off escape routes and external intervention.
A senior security official described the alleged plot as “highly coordinated,” noting that it involved clear command hierarchies, operational timelines, and defined objectives.
Network of Suspects and Civilian Links
Authorities say the conspiracy involved at least 40 suspects, including senior military officers such as brigadiers, colonels, and lieutenant colonels drawn from multiple units.
Investigators also identified civilian collaborators allegedly assigned to logistics and propaganda roles, including individuals working within the Presidential Villa and others recruited to manage public messaging during the operation.
Among those named in connection with the network is Timipre Sylva, who, alongside another high-profile figure, is reportedly at large.
Weapons Cache and Arrests
Security agencies recovered a large cache of weapons linked to the suspects, including gun trucks, anti-aircraft systems, RPGs, and large quantities of ammunition.
Dozens of vehicles were also seized, believed to have been procured for rapid deployment across the capital.
The suspects were arrested in a joint covert operation involving the military and security agencies. While many remain in detention, investigations into financial and logistical support networks are ongoing.
Families Demand Transparency
Despite the official narrative, families of detained suspects have pushed back, alleging prolonged detention without trial and inconsistencies in the investigation.
At a recent briefing, they called for an open and transparent judicial process, warning against what they described as “trial by media.”
With investigations now concluded, attention shifts to prosecution, amid lingering questions over whether proceedings will be conducted publicly or within closed military channels.
