At least 35 Nigerian military officers are currently being held over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s government, according to Sahara Reporters. This figure contradicts an earlier statement by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), which acknowledged the arrest of only 16 officers for what it described as acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
Sources told Sahara Reporters that those detained include senior officers drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force, among them a Brigadier General, several Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, and junior officers, alongside about 10 non-commissioned officers. While the majority are reportedly from northern Nigeria, a few officers from the southern states were also said to be among those in custody. A paramilitary operative is also allegedly being detained in connection with the case.
According to insiders, the arrests followed weeks of covert surveillance and coordinated operations by military intelligence. They further alleged that some officers were picked up after returning from training programmes outside the country, and accused authorities of downplaying the scale of the detentions. The DHQ, however, maintains that the affected officers will face military judicial panels, following investigations that now officially include allegations of plotting to overthrow the government.
The detentions have sparked concern among families and observers, amid reports of prolonged incommunicado detention and poor holding conditions. The case has also attracted political attention after security operatives reportedly visited the Abuja residence of a former federal minister, who has denied any involvement. Despite earlier denials, the military’s latest statement confirms that coup-related allegations are now part of the ongoing disciplinary proceedings.