A covert intelligence operation coordinated by the Army Headquarters and the State Security Service (SSS) helped thwart an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and detain or harm key political figures, Premium Times reports.
Multiple senior sources within the administration said the scheme began to unravel in late September 2025 after a serving military officer with direct knowledge of the plan contacted the then Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. According to the insider, the officer feared being implicated in treason if he failed to report the scheme.
At around the same time, the SSS independently gathered intelligence suggesting some serving military personnel were plotting to destabilise the government and undermine Nigeria’s democracy, according to an official familiar with the matter.
The source said SSS Director‑General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, personally briefed Gen. Oluyede on the findings.
Faced with converging intelligence from multiple sources, the two security chiefs agreed to act swiftly. A discreet joint operation was launched, with coordinated arrests planned across the country to neutralise suspected masterminds and collaborators.
On September 30, 2025, as President Tinubu travelled to Imo State for an official engagement, reportedly unaware of the plot, security agencies moved to dismantle the alleged conspiracy. A number of military and civilian suspects were arrested during the sweep.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Emmanuel Undiandeye, and the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, were briefed on the operation. Mr Undiandeye was directed to detain suspects in the Defence Intelligence Agency’s underground facility, a military insider said.
Following the arrests, the Presidency was formally informed of the foiled plot. President Tinubu subsequently cancelled the October 1 National Independence Day parade and approved the constitution of a special investigative panel led by Gen. Undiandeye, which later resulted in further arrests.
Suspect Escapes, Re‑Arrested
One of the detained personnel reportedly escaped custody but was rearrested by SSS operatives in Bauchi, the source added.
Meanwhile, a retired officer identified as General Adamu and a former governor, Timipre Sylva, alleged to have financed the plotters, were reportedly still at large.
Following the incident, President Tinubu retired Gen. Musa along with the chiefs of the navy and air force. Maj. Gen. Oluyede was appointed Chief of Defence Staff and later promoted to General. Weeks after his removal, Gen. Musa returned to government as Minister of Defence.
On October 4, Defence Headquarters issued a statement saying the arrested officers were being probed for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” It added that the suspects’ grievances related to “career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.”
Despite growing reporting by Premium Times and other outlets, the military repeatedly denied the existence of a coup plot. In an October 18 statement, the Defence Headquarters described the investigation involving 16 officers as a routine internal inquiry aimed at maintaining discipline and professionalism within the armed forces.
However, on January 26, the military publicly acknowledged that some officers had plotted to overthrow the government, announcing that those indicted would be arraigned before a military judicial panel.
“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” Defence Headquarters said.
Earlier reporting by PREMIUM TIMES cited sources who identified several senior political figures as alleged targets of the scheme, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
One source said, “There are other people targeted. But those are the key targets.”
According to sources, the alleged plotters also planned to detain senior military officers, including service chiefs, not necessarily to kill them but to neutralise them during the operation.
They were reported to have intended a simultaneous attack on the political leadership, waiting for a day when all key figures would be in the country.
One official said, “They have people inside the Villa who monitor the movements of these officials. The plan was to … install a military government.”
