Military authorities are investigating 16 military officers detained for their alleged involvement in a botched coup plot against the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
The detained officers, according to Premium Times, an online news platform, include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, a lieutenant, a lieutenant commander from the Navy (the naval equivalent of a major), and a squadron leader from the Air Force.
The Defence Headquarters and the presidency have dismissed the attempted coup plot, despite widespread reports linking it to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade and sacking of service Chiefs.
Sources with details of the ongoing investigations had earlier told Premium Times that 14 of the 16 detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, while the remaining two are from the Navy and the Air Force.
The medium quoted sources that 12 of the 14 army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, the army’s frontline combat unit whose troops primarily engage in ground battles. One officer is from the Signals Corps, which manages military communications. At the same time, another serves in the Ordnance Corps, responsible for procuring, storing, and maintaining weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other essential hardware.
List of detained officers
Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, with service number N/10321, was born on January 3, 1974. He trained as an NDA cadet between 14 August 1992 and 20 September 1997 and is suspected of being the leader of the alleged coup plot.
As a member of Regular Course 44, Sadiq, a native of Nasarawa State, rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 2015 and a brigadier general four years later. He belongs to the infantry corps.
Premium Times reports that it is not the first time Sadiq has made headlines for alleged gross misconduct. In October 2024, he was reportedly detained for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives, selling of military equipment, including generator sets and operational vehicles to scrap yards.”
Among other postings, the officer served as Commander of the 3rd Brigade in Kano and Garrison Commander of the 81 Division of the Army in Lagos.
Colonel M.A. Ma’aji is a colonel with service number N/10668. Born on March 1, 1976, the Nupe native from Niger State began training on August 18, 1995, and completed it on September 16, 2000. Investigators suspect he played the role of a key strategist for the alleged coup plot, but the claim has not been verified.
A member of the infantry corps, Ma’aji was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2013 and became a full colonel four years later. The 49-year-old officer was the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army based in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
He participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II, a Nigerian Army military exercise conducted in 2017, aimed at addressing security challenges in the Niger Delta and parts of the Southwest. He also served at Depot, Nigerian Army, and later as Commander, Operation Delta Safe. He was a member of the 47 Regular Course of the NDA.
Lt. Colonel S. Bappah is a member of the Nigerian Army Signals Corps, with service number N/13036. He hails from Bauchi State in North-East Nigeria. He was born on 21 June 1984. The 41-year-old officer started his cadet training on 27 September 2004 and completed it on 4 October 2008. He is a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA.
Lt Colonel A.A. Hayatu, with service number N/13038, hails from Kaduna State. Born on August 13, 1983, he underwent his cadet training between September 27, 2004, and October 4, 2008. A member of the infantry corps, Hayatu also belonged to the 56 Regular Course.
Dangnap is from Plateau State. He was born on 1 April 1986. In 2015, he was court-martialed alongside 29 others for offences related to the fight against Boko Haram. The 39-year-old officer, with service number N/13025, began his cadet training on September 27, 2004, and completed it on October 4, 2008. Dangnap is an infantry corps officer and member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA.
Lt. Colonel M. Almakura is a member of the 56 Regular Course. A native of Nasarawa State, he was born on 18 March 1983. The infantry corps officer, with service number N/12983, trained as a cadet at the NDA from September 27, 2004, to October 4, 2008.
Major A. J Ibrahim, with service number N/13065, hails from Gombe State. Born on 12 June 1987, the Infantry Corps officer trained between 27 September 2004 and 4 October 2008. He was a member of the 56 Regular Course and became a captain in 2013.
Major M.M. Jiddah is an indigene of Katsina State. He was born on 9 July 1985. He trained between September 27, 2004, and October 4, 2008. Jiddah, with service number N/13003, is an infantry Army officer and a member of the 56 Regular Course.
Major M.A. Usman is a Nigerian Army major with service number N/15404. He was born on 1 April 1989. He hails from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A member of the 60th Regular Course, the infantry officer was trained as a cadet at the NDA between August 16, 2008, and September 14, 2012.
Major D. Yusuf is a member of the Ordnance Corps. He was born on 26 May 1988. As a member of the 59th Regular Course, Yusuf, with service number N/14753, trained at NDA between 7 July 2007 and 8 September 2012. The officer hails from Gombe State.
Major I. Dauda joined the army through the Direct Short Service Commissions. Born on 26 November 1983, the infantry officer with service number N/13625, trained between 5 June 2009 and 27 March 2010. Dauda, who hails from Jigawa, is a member of Short Service Commission Course 38.
The remaining officers, whose details are still sketchy, are: Captain Ibrahim Bello, a member of the Direct Short Service Commission Course 43 with service number N/16266, who was born on 28 July 1987; Captain A. A Yusuf with service number N/16724; Lieutenant S.S Felix with service number N/18105; Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi, a naval officer with service number NN/3289, and Squadron S. B Adamu, an Air Force squadron leader with service number NAF/3481.
It was gathered that 12 persons are under probe in connection with the alleged coup plot.
It was also gathered that an ex-governor from the southern part of the country was alleged to be involved in the plot.
On Wednesday, Julius Bokoru, an aide to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, confirmed that military personnel raided his residence.
The aide, who denied the involvement of his principal in the alleged coup plot, said no reason was given for the raid on the home of the former governor.
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