The Nigerian military has arrested additional serving officers over an alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, deepening an investigation that has lingered since last year.
Among those reportedly detained is Major H. Yusuf of the Nigerian Army, a member of the 57th Regular Course, who recently completed the Senior Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
Security sources said the officer is being held alongside several others over what authorities described as a conspiracy aimed at destabilising the government.
However, full details of the alleged plot remain unclear, as the Armed Forces have yet to publicly outline the specifics of the accusations.
The development follows the October 2025 arrest of 16 officers for what was initially described as acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
In January 2026, the military said fresh findings from ongoing investigations linked some of the officers to an alleged attempt to subvert constitutional order.
In a statement at the time, the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said preliminary investigations revealed actions “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
He stated that officers found culpable would be arraigned before a military judicial panel in line with the Armed Forces Act.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), recently disclosed that he was among senior officials allegedly marked for elimination by the suspected plotters.
Speaking on the development, Musa said the alleged conspirators planned to arrest him and shoot him if he resisted.
“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he said.
Musa, however, dismissed the suspected plotters as lacking the capacity to undermine the Armed Forces.
Separate reports indicated that about 35 military personnel are currently in custody in connection with the alleged plot.
Those detained reportedly include a Brigadier General, two Colonels, five Lieutenant Colonels, eight Majors, a Wing Commander, a Lieutenant Commander, two Squadron Leaders, five Captains and a Lieutenant.
Also said to be in custody are 10 non-commissioned officers, including a Warrant Officer, Sergeants and junior ranks.
A police officer, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim from Taraba State, was reportedly arrested in Abuja by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency and is being held over alleged links to the conspiracy.
One of the detained officers was said to be undergoing a course in a North African country before his arrest.
Online reports suggested that the alleged plot may have extended beyond the military hierarchy, with claims that some prominent Nigerians were listed as potential targets. However, authorities have not officially confirmed these claims.
There were also unverified reports linking the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade to security concerns arising from the investigation. No formal statement has established such a connection.
In a related development, the Bayelsa residence of former governor Timipre Sylva was reportedly searched over alleged links to the matter, although no charges have been announced against him.
Nigeria witnessed a series of military coups between 1966 and 1993 before returning to democratic rule in 1999. Since then, the country has maintained civilian governance despite security and political tensions.
The latest allegations come amid renewed concerns over unconstitutional changes of government in parts of West Africa in recent years.
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