AGN Leadership Breaks Silence on Actor's Detention in Alleged Government Plot
The leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria has finally provided detailed information about the detention of their colleague, Stanley Amandi, following reports linking him to an alleged plot against the federal government. The revelations offer crucial insights into what the guild knew about the situation and when they became aware of the serious nature of the allegations.
Family Alerted Guild Months Before Public Revelation
According to statements from both outgoing national president Emeka Rollas and newly elected president Abubakar Yakubu, the AGN was first notified about Amandi's situation by his family members as far back as September 2025. The family reportedly reached out to the guild seeking assistance after security operatives picked up the actor, who previously served as chairman of the AGN's Enugu state chapter.
Yakubu explained the sequence of events: "When Stanley was in detention, we tried a little effort. The family cried to us that they picked him up since last year, and we made some efforts, but we did not know it was linked to a coup."
Initial Confusion Over Security Agency Involvement
The guild leadership admitted they initially believed Amandi was being held by the Department of State Services for what they thought was a minor civil matter. This assumption created significant confusion when the guild attempted to intervene on behalf of their member.
Yakubu elaborated on the bureaucratic maze they encountered: "We even thought it was DSS. But DSS said he was not in their detention, and that it was the Defence Intelligence Agency. All these happened before this news broke."
The lack of clear information about which security agency actually held Amandi made it extremely difficult for the guild to take decisive action or provide meaningful assistance to the detained actor's family during those critical months.
Connection to Wider National Security Investigation
Recent reports have tied Amandi's detention to the widely discussed October 2025 "Independence Day plot," which resulted in the cancellation of Nigeria's 65th anniversary parade. The alleged conspiracy reportedly targeted several high-ranking government officials, including:
- President Bola Tinubu
- Vice President Kashim Shettima
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio
- Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas
This connection to a broader national security investigation explains why Amandi's case remained shrouded in secrecy for months, with even his professional guild struggling to obtain accurate information about his whereabouts and the charges against him.
Political Reactions and Ongoing Developments
The case has generated significant political commentary, with Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, publicly commenting on the alleged coup plot. Igbokwe specifically named Brigadier General Musa Abubakar as the alleged leader of the October 2025 attempt and emphasized that President Tinubu was taking the matter with utmost seriousness.
The AGN leadership's revelations highlight the challenges faced by professional organizations when their members become entangled in high-profile security cases. The guild's delayed understanding of the situation's gravity underscores the opacity that often surrounds such sensitive investigations, even for established institutions attempting to support their members.
