ABUJA - In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's security establishment, no fewer than 16 senior military officers are currently being held in detention facilities across the country over their alleged involvement in a planned coup d'état.
The comprehensive report obtained by our news organization reveals disturbing details about the high-ranking personnel now in custody, including several officers holding strategic command positions within the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Who Are the Detained Officers?
According to confidential military sources, the detained officers represent a cross-section of the army's leadership structure, with ranks ranging from Major to Colonel. The investigation suggests these officers were allegedly planning to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The detained personnel include:
- Several commanding officers of frontline units
- Intelligence officers with access to sensitive information
- Officers previously deployed in critical security operations
- Personnel with specialized combat training
Security Agencies on High Alert
Military intelligence units, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have reportedly been monitoring suspicious activities among certain elements within the armed forces for several weeks. The coordinated arrests were executed following what security sources describe as "concrete evidence" of subversive plotting.
"The situation is being treated with the utmost seriousness at the highest levels of government," revealed a senior security official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The military hierarchy is determined to root out any elements that threaten Nigeria's democratic stability."
Nationwide Security Implications
This development comes at a time when Nigeria faces multiple security challenges, including ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast and banditry in the Northwest. The alleged coup plot raises serious questions about internal cohesion within the military establishment.
Security analysts suggest that the discovery of such a plot, if confirmed, represents one of the most significant threats to Nigeria's democracy in recent years. The military high command has reportedly initiated a comprehensive review of personnel in sensitive positions.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has maintained official silence on the matter, but our sources confirm that extensive debriefing and interrogation of the detained officers are currently underway at secure locations.
