A retired Army General, Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, has been arrested by military authorities in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Gana, a Niger State indigene and traditional title holder, was reportedly taken into custody about a week after his son, Lieutenant Colonel Sadiq Ibrahim-Gana, was detained by military intelligence operatives.
The Lieutenant Colonel, who served as Commanding Officer of the 115 Battalion in Askira, Borno State, is among at least 35 military officers currently being held over the alleged coup plot. Military sources said the retired General was linked to the investigation due to his longstanding relationship with one of the alleged masterminds, Colonel Alhassan Ma’aji, though no direct operational role has been publicly established. The sources added that both father and son deny involvement in any attempt to destabilise the government.
Those detained cut across the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, including a Brigadier General, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, and junior officers, as well as several non-commissioned officers. A police officer, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, was also arrested in Abuja by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). In addition, several civilians were reportedly picked up during the investigation, including individuals accused of providing logistical support, such as vehicle repairs, to the alleged plotters.
The arrests follow earlier reports in October 2025 of covert operations by military intelligence targeting suspected coup plans, which were initially denied by the Defence Headquarters. However, the military has now acknowledged that allegations of plotting against the government form part of the ongoing investigation. Families of some detainees have raised concerns over prolonged detention, lack of access to lawyers, and poor conditions in custody, while the case has continued to draw national attention amid claims of political undertones and denials from individuals linked to the probe.