The military clampdown on suspected coup plotters has intensified as security agencies turned searchlight on more individuals allegedly linked to the plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
A retired Army General, identified as Major General Mohammed, was allegedly arrested, alongside several serving military officers.
It was gathered that the General, a traditional title holder from Niger State, was taken into custody shortly after his son, a Lieutenant Colonel, was detained by military intelligence operatives.
The Lieutenant Colonel, Ibrahim Gana is among the 35 military officers currently being held over alleged involvement in the plot aimed at truncating Nigeria’s democratic government.
Until his arrest, the younger Ibrahim-Gana was the Commanding Officer of the 115 Battalion in Askira, Borno State and was listed as number nine on the official list of detained officers.
A military source disclosed that the retired General was arrested mainly due to his long-standing relationship with the alleged mastermind of the plot, Colonel Alhassan Ma’aji.
“A retired Army General, Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, was also arrested. He is said to be the one who helped the alleged mastermind of the coup, Colonel Alhassan Ma’aji, gain admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in August 1995. Being Ma’aji’s godfather, investigators believed he was aware of the plan. Nothing else was linked to him apart from that,” the source told Daily Sun.
The source added that although no incriminating evidence had so far been traced to Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim-Gana, he was nevertheless detained on suspicion of having possible links to the alleged plotters.
“His son was busy fighting Boko Haram in Borno, but they still believed he might have a connection with the coup plotters,” the source added.
Investigators have also reportedly arrested several civilians in connection with the case, including mechanics alleged to have repaired vehicles for some of the suspects and a staff member of construction firm, Julius Berger.
It was further gathered that a police officer, identified as Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim from Taraba State, was apprehended in Abuja by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over alleged involvement in the plot.
Those currently detained include an Army Brigadier General, two Colonels, five Lieutenant Colonels, a Wing Commander (equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel) in the Air Force, eight Majors, a Lieutenant Commander (Major equivalent) in the Navy, two Squadron Leaders (Major equivalent) in the Air Force, five Captains and one Lieutenant.
Also in custody are 10 non-commissioned officers, comprising one Warrant Officer, five Sergeants, one Corporal and two Lance Corporals.
The detainees are said to be drawn largely from the northern part of the country, including Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Yobe, Kogi, Sokoto and Adamawa states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
Investigations into the alleged coup plot began in October 2025 when several officers were arrested in coordinated operations by the DIA after weeks of covert surveillance.
Although the Defence Headquarters initially dismissed media reports linking the arrests to a coup attempt, it has since admitted that allegations of plotting to overthrow the government formed a major part of the investigation.
Human rights concerns have, however, emerged over the detention conditions of the suspects. Sources alleged that some of the detained officers have fallen ill in custody, with two reportedly collapsing due to harsh conditions in an underground military cell in Abuja.
Families of the officers have complained of prolonged incommunicado detention, denial of access to lawyers and lack of information regarding transfers between detention facilities.
The investigation has also attracted political attention, following reports that military operatives visited the Abuja residence of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva. Sylva confirmed the visit but denied any involvement, describing attempts to link him to the plot as politically motivated.
Security authorities insist that investigations are still ongoing and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with military and civil laws.
Daily Sun further learnt from the Defence Headquarters in Abuja that investigations have been concluded and those found to have participated in the alleged putsch had been identified and would soon be arraigned before a court-martial.
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, in a recent television interview disclosed that he would have been assassinated if the coup had succeeded, saying he was one of the primary targets.
“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot. But again, I think these guys were just a bunch of very unserious individuals. If you look at the calibre of the individuals, I really don’t know what got into their heads to think that they could take on the armed forces like that,” he said.
He added that even ordinary Nigerians would have resisted any attempt to return the country to military rule.
“Even without the armed forces, Nigerians would have stood against them. Nigerians fought against military rule for years, and Mr. President has always been one of those who stood for democracy,” Musa stated.
The Defence Minister said most of those involved had been apprehended, with only “maybe one or two” suspects still at large.
“So far, most of them have been caught. If there’s anyone, maybe one or two. It just started from the colonel himself, who felt disgruntled because he was not promoted. He didn’t meet the marks to be promoted,” he explained.
Musa further noted that the plot was driven largely by personal grievances, stressing that promotions in the armed forces were strictly merit-based.
“The armed forces is very strict about its promotion system. But, he didn’t make it. So, what he decided to do was probably go around, look at other people that had one issue or the other, with the aim of bringing them in,” he said.
Expressing concern for junior officers allegedly lured into the plan, the minister added: “My pain is all those young officers who didn’t understand what was going on that he put in this mess. Now, they have to face the consequences.”
Authorities have assured Nigerians that the military remains loyal to the Constitution and that efforts were being intensified to prevent any threat to the nation’s democracy.
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