Inside Nigeria’s Foiled Coup: Profiles Of 16 Detained Military Officers & The Secrets Behind The Plot

By MAHMOOD MALIK MUSA (M.M.M.) IBRAHIM

NIGERIA’S security circles remain tense as investigations deepen into an alleged coup attempt against the administration of President Bola Tinubu, a development that has sent shockwaves through the country’s defence establishment.

Exclusive findings reveal the names and profiles of 16 senior military officers currently detained over the foiled plot — a rare and unsettling moment in Nigeria’s democratic history. Of these, 14 are from the Nigerian Army, while one officer each from the Navy and Air Force are also under interrogation.

According to credible security sources, the bulk of the detained officers — 12 out of 14 in the Army — belong to the Infantry Corps, the combat backbone of Nigeria’s military. One serves in the Signals Corps, which handles communication, while another is from the Ordnance Corps, in charge of military hardware and logistics.

The officers, whose ranks range from Brigadier General to Lieutenant, are alleged to have played varying roles in a plot that insiders describe as a “multi-phase plan” to destabilize the constitutional order.

Though the Defence Headquarters has not officially commented on the case — denying that the incident influenced the low-key Independence Day celebrations on 1st October — sources indicate that the Department of Military Intelligence and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) are jointly leading the investigation, with support from the Department of State Services (DSS).

🔎 Who Are the Officers Behind the Alleged Plot?

1. Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (N/10321)

Born on 3 January 1974, Sadiq is alleged to be the ringleader of the foiled coup. A graduate of the 44th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), the Nasarawa-born officer rose swiftly through the ranks after his 1997 commission.

Once Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Kano, and Garrison Commander of 81 Division, Lagos, Sadiq’s record is tainted by past controversies, including an October 2024 detention over alleged diversion of military equipment and palliatives.

2. Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (N/10668)

The Nupe-born officer from Niger State, born 1 March 1976, was reportedly a strategist within the network. A veteran of Operation Crocodile Smile II in the Niger Delta, he once commanded the 19 Battalion, Okitipupa.

A graduate of Regular Course 47, Ma’aji is reputed for his tactical precision and influence within the Infantry Corps.

3. Lt. Colonel S. Bappah (N/13036)

From Bauchi State, Bappah, 41, serves in the Signals Corps. A member of the 56th Regular Course, his communications role within the Army reportedly positioned him as a critical link in coordinating movements and relaying field orders.

4. Lt. Colonel A.A. Hayatu (N/13038)

The Kaduna-born officer, 42, also of the 56th Regular Course, has served in counterinsurgency operations in the North-East. Investigators believe his experience in ground logistics made him a support node in the network.

5. Lt. Colonel P. Dangnap (N/13025)

A Plateau native, Dangnap, 39, previously faced a 2015 court-martial alongside 29 others for alleged misconduct in the Boko Haram campaign. His re-emergence in this scandal underscores a pattern of discontent among some frontline officers.

6. Lt. Colonel M. Almakura (N/12983)

Also from Nasarawa, Almakura, 42, was an Infantry officer of the 56th Regular Course. Sources describe him as “quiet but strategic,” often managing troop deployments in sensitive operations.

7. Major A.J. Ibrahim (N/13065)

Born on 12 June 1987, the Gombe-born officer was commissioned in 2008 and rose to become a company commander known for discipline and operational accuracy.

8. Major M.M. Jiddah (N/13003)

From Katsina State, 40-year-old Jiddah served in the Infantry and has a history of border operations under Operation Hadin Kai.

9. Major M.A. Usman (N/15404)

A Federal Capital Territory indigene and member of the 60th Regular Course, Usman’s 13-year career included postings in intelligence-driven assignments, raising investigators’ interest in his knowledge of tactical networks.

10. Major D. Yusuf (N/14753)

From Gombe State, Yusuf, 37, serves in the Ordnance Corps — responsible for arms storage and supply. His alleged role revolves around access to weaponry.

11. Major I. Dauda (N/13625)

Commissioned via the Short Service Course 38, the Jigawa-born Infantry officer, 41, has previously served in anti-banditry operations in the North-West.

12–16. Other Detained Officers

• Captain Ibrahim Bello (N/16266) – Born 28 July 1987, DSSC 43 graduate.

• Captain A.A. Yusuf (N/16724) – Infantry officer, details undisclosed.

• Lieutenant S.S. Felix (N/18105) – Junior officer, Infantry Corps.

• Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi (NN/3289) – Nigerian Navy.

• Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu (NAF/3481) – Nigerian Air Force.

⚔️ A Shadow Over the Barracks

Analysts say the unfolding case has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s military hierarchy, reviving uneasy memories of past coups that derailed the country’s democratic trajectory.
While official silence persists, multiple insiders confirm that security across major military formations has been heightened, with internal monitoring intensified to preempt further subversion.

A senior security source disclosed:

“This is not just about an attempted coup — it’s about the breach of trust within the officer corps. The chain of command is being carefully audited to ensure the loyalty of every unit.”

🇳🇬 What Comes Next?

Legal experts note that if found guilty under military law, the officers face court-martial, dismissal, and possible life imprisonment under Nigeria’s Armed Forces Act for treasonable offences.

Observers say the situation presents a defining test for Tinubu’s military leadership, as he balances firm discipline with the need to maintain morale in a force already stretched by insurgency, banditry, and separatist threats.

As Nigeria awaits the Defence Headquarters’ official briefing, one thing is certain — the shadow of military intrigue has once again fallen over Abuja, challenging the nation’s fragile democracy and the military’s loyalty to civilian rule.