Interim Report Uncovers Alleged Military Coup Plot Targeting Tinubu, Shettima, Key National Assets
An interim investigation report has uncovered details of an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, revealing a coordinated network of serving military officers accused of planning to overthrow the government and seize strategic national assets.
The report, sighted by the media on Tuesday, alleges that an Army Colonel (name withheld) acted as the central coordinator of the conspiracy, overseeing funding, recruitment, and early-stage operational planning. Investigators said the plot extended beyond internal dissent and had entered an advanced preparatory phase involving officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
According to findings, the alleged coordinator—reportedly frustrated by repeated failures in promotion—mobilised like-minded officers across the services, tasking them with covert surveillance of critical locations, including the Presidential Villa, major military barracks, the Armed Forces Complex, and international airports in Abuja and Lagos.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had earlier announced the arrest of 16 officers in October 2025 over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. At the time, the arrests—ranging from Captain to Brigadier-General—were publicly downplayed as internal disciplinary matters. However, the interim report now links the detentions to intelligence-driven efforts to dismantle what investigators describe as a structured coup conspiracy.
Searches conducted on the alleged coordinator’s vehicle reportedly uncovered charms and anti-government materials, while a raid on his residence in Lokogoma, Abuja, yielded sensitive documents outlining role allocations and strategies for handling “key national dignitaries” during the operation.
Investigators said financial inducements ranging between ₦2 million and ₦5 million were allegedly distributed to principal actors for logistics and mobilisation, with encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp and Zangi used to coordinate activities. A detailed financial trail is currently being analysed with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), alongside probes into suspected civilian and political linkages.
One officer, identified as a Lieutenant Colonel, reportedly emerged as a key cooperating witness, providing detailed accounts of recruitment methods, funding flows, and communication channels.
Security sources said the alleged coup—reportedly planned for October 25, 2025—posed an “immediate and grave threat” to national stability, with the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima, senior ministers, and service chiefs allegedly marked for elimination.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed that indicted personnel would be arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel as investigations continue and additional suspects are tracked.