Nigeria's Foiled Coup Plot: Weapons Cache, Vehicles, and Details of Recovered Items Revealed
Exclusive findings have unveiled the extensive scale of weapons, vehicles, and cash recovered from military officers and civilians suspected of orchestrating a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government. This discovery follows a comprehensive inter-agency investigation led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye, whose panel has now concluded its probe into the thwarted coup attempt.
Heavy Weapons and Tactical Gear Seized
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the plot involved a meticulously coordinated network responsible for reconnaissance, funding, logistics, and propaganda, implicating both serving and retired officers. Investigators reportedly recovered two gun trucks, anti-aircraft guns, PKT machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade bombs, AK-47 rifles, large quantities of ammunition, and tactical gear.
These were not random arms. They were weapons configured for rapid deployment and coordinated action, as disclosed by a security source. The cache was traced to a lieutenant colonel attached to the Nigerian Army's 130 Battalion, highlighting the involvement of active military personnel in the conspiracy.
Fleet of Vehicles for Covert Operations
In addition to the arms haul, investigators seized a fleet of vehicles allegedly acquired for covert movements and intelligence gathering. The vehicles included:
- Four Toyota Hilux trucks
- One Toyota Prado SUV
- Two Toyota saloon cars
- Thirty-two Volkswagen Golf vehicles
Sources indicated that these cars were used to enable discreet access to sensitive locations, including airports and other strategic facilities in Abuja. The vehicles allowed operatives to move around without attracting attention and to carry out reconnaissance linked to the plot, one investigator revealed.
Key Suspects and International Manhunt
The investigation identified a retired major general, Adamu, as a key figure connected to the network. He remains at large, along with three other suspects. Intelligence sources have tracked one fleeing suspect to a country in South America, although the exact location has not been disclosed for security reasons.
Multiple security agencies are collaborating to dismantle remaining cells linked to the plot, with ongoing surveillance and cross-border intelligence coordination. A former governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has been accused of bankrolling the coup plot and is currently evading capture.
Investigators allege that Sylva transferred nearly ₦1 billion in multiple tranches to three bank accounts operated by a Bureau De Change agent to fund the conspiracy. Efforts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful.
Court-Martial Proceedings Await Presidential Approval
Authorities are awaiting presidential approval to formally announce a court-martial for the soldiers implicated in the plot. Sixteen military officers were initially arrested for direct involvement, but further arrests followed the work of the special investigative panel led by General Undiandeye.
At least 25 military officers and personnel are expected to face trial in connection with the coup attempt, according to a source close to the investigation. An unspecified number of civilians are also in custody and are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the State Security Service over alleged roles in financing, logistics, and coordination.
Assassination Targets and Strategic Seizure Plans
The coup was initially scheduled for 29 May 2023, during the presidential inauguration marking the handover of power from former President Muhammadu Buhari to Tinubu. Sources said it was suspended due to inadequate funding and logistical gaps, but the conspirators reactivated the plan in 2024 after raising additional funds.
Investigators found that the plotters marked several top officials for assassination, including:
- President Bola Tinubu
- Vice-President Kashim Shettima
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio
- Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas
Further investigation showed that the service chiefs and the Commander of the Guards Brigade were also targeted. There are other people on the list, but those are the key targets, a source clarified.
According to multiple sources, some officers were assigned to seize control of strategic facilities, including the Presidential Villa, Niger Barracks, the Armed Forces of Nigeria Complex, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Senior military officers, including the service chiefs, were to be detained rather than killed, with the conspirators planning to assassinate political leaders simultaneously.
They had people inside the Villa. The idea was to eliminate the leadership at once and install a military government, a source disclosed, indicating the depth of infiltration within key security installations.
Defence Headquarters Confirms Probe Completion
On Monday, January 26, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the investigation had been completed and transmitted to appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations. Further official actions, including prosecutions and court-martial proceedings, are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
This development underscores the ongoing challenges to Nigeria's democratic stability and the vigilance required to safeguard constitutional governance against internal threats.
