An interim investigation report has identified an Army Colonel as the alleged mastermind behind the foiled coup plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with investigators tracing recruitment, operational planning, and funding directly to the senior military officer.
The revelations, contained in an investigation report submitted to military authorities, provide the clearest picture yet of how a disgruntled officer allegedly built a clandestine network spanning multiple service branches in what security officials described as a “lethal” conspiracy against Nigeria’s constitutional order.
According to findings from the probe conducted by the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu involved recruiting officers across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, providing financial inducements ranging from N2 million to N5 million, and assigning specific targets among top government officials for what was planned as a violent takeover.
The Mastermind Behind the Colonel Plot to Overthrow Tinubu
Multiple testimonies from detained officers have implicated the unnamed Colonel as the coordinator of the conspiracy, with investigators describing him as the central figure who provided both the ideological justification and material resources for the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu.
“Multiple testimonies implicate Col (name withheld) as the coordinator of the conspiracy. He has been identified so far as the source of funding, recruitment, and motivation, openly lamenting his stagnation in promotion and expressing the need to ‘change government,'” the investigation report stated, according to findings published by The Punch newspaper.
The Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu was reportedly driven by personal grievances, particularly repeated failures in promotion examinations that bred what investigators described as “deep resentment and isolation” in the officer. Rather than pursue official channels for addressing his career frustrations, the Colonel allegedly converted his personal grievances into a recruitment strategy.
Searches conducted at the Colonel’s residence in Lokogoma, Apo area of Abuja, uncovered sensitive documents including allocation of responsibilities to principal actors in the plot, lists of national dignitaries earmarked as targets, and anti-government materials including write-ups about NUPENG strike actions.
Investigators also reported finding charms and other items in the Colonel’s vehicle, suggesting he may have sought spiritual reinforcement for the planned takeover.
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How the Colonel Plot to Overthrow Tinubu Was Organized
The investigation revealed that the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu demonstrated sophisticated operational planning, with conspirators assigned to conduct surveillance of critical installations including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and international airports.
The network allegedly exploited insider access, with investigators claiming that Presidential Villa workers and construction firm Julius Berger employees were compromised to obtain security-related information. Encrypted communication platforms were reportedly used to coordinate logistics, funding, and movements while maintaining operational security.
One of the arrested officers, Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah, became a key witness after admitting his involvement and providing investigators with details on recruitment tactics, funding sources, and communication channels used in the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu.
Financial inducements formed a critical component of the conspiracy, with intelligence agencies now analyzing money trails through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. The amounts allegedly distributed to recruited officers ranged between N2 million and N5 million, funds that investigators say came directly from the coordinating Colonel.
Target Date and Intended Violence of Colonel Plot to Overthrow Tinubu
The Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu was uncovered ahead of its proposed execution date of October 25, 2025, just weeks after the dramatic cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade that sparked widespread speculation about underlying security threats.
Security sources told various media outlets that the planned takeover was “lethal in scope,” with President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, ministers, and service chiefs all reportedly listed as targets for elimination.
“The coup would have been bloody beyond imagination. The planning didn’t start this year. It wasn’t just about seizing power—it was a blueprint for mass elimination and the total paralysis of Nigeria’s leadership structure,” a security source told PRNigeria.
The cancellation of the Independence Day celebrations, initially dismissed as routine, is now understood to have been a direct countermeasure after credible intelligence emerged about the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu being timed for the October 1 celebrations.
Cross-Service Reach of the Colonel Plot to Overthrow Tinubu
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu was its cross-service reach, with conspirators drawn from across the Armed Forces hierarchy. Of the 16 officers detained, 14 are from the Nigerian Army, one from the Navy (a Lieutenant Commander), and one from the Air Force (a Squadron Leader).
The detained officers include Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, who investigators say was aware of the plot but failed to report it; Colonel M.A. Ma’aji, suspected to have played a key strategist role; and several Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, and junior officers.
Twelve of the 14 Army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, the service’s frontline combat unit, while others serve in the Signals Corps (military communications) and Ordnance Corps (weapons and equipment). This distribution suggests the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu aimed to secure both operational capabilities and logistical support necessary for a successful takeover.
Fifteen of the sixteen detained officers are from Nigeria’s North-Central, North-East, and North-West regions, with only one officer from the South-West. This demographic composition has fueled speculation about regional grievances, though investigators have not confirmed any ethnic or regional motivation beyond the personal ambitions and frustrations of the coordinating Colonel.
Investigation Timeline and Official Confirmation
The Defence Intelligence Agency reportedly began tracking the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu as early as August 2024, when intelligence reports first suggested serving military officers were planning to undermine the government.
“The coup plotters have been under the radar since August 2024, when the service got wind of the plot. They mapped out three different times to strike, two of which were the June 12 Democracy Day and the October 1 Independence Day this year,” a security source disclosed.
On October 4, 2025, the Defence Headquarters announced the arrest of 16 officers over “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” initially downplaying the severity of the situation. However, on January 26, 2026, Director of Defence Information Major General Samaila Uba officially confirmed that investigations had uncovered a genuine coup plot.
“The comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, has carefully examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel. The findings have identified a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards required of members of the AFN,” Uba stated.
Presidential sources told Daily Trust that the investigation report confirmed “it (the attempt to stage a coup) was real,” with clear evidence that detained officers planned to execute what media had reported.
Wider Investigation Into Civilian Financiers
Beyond identifying the military Colonel at the center of the plot, investigators have widened their probe to include civilian financiers and political contacts who may have supported the conspiracy.
Communication records, financial transactions, and external connections are currently under review as authorities work to dismantle every layer of the network. Reports suggest that substantial sums discovered in bank accounts of one detained Colonel—initially reported at N11 billion—are being scrutinized for possible links to civilian sponsors.
When interrogated, the officer allegedly claimed the funds belonged to a former governor described as his “business partner,” raising questions about possible political backing for the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu.
Regional Context and Implications
The Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu emerges against the backdrop of a wave of military coups across West Africa, with successful takeovers in Mali (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023). The juntas later formed the Alliance of Sahel States and withdrew from ECOWAS, challenging the regional body’s authority.
As a two-time ECOWAS chairman, President Tinubu has championed the bloc’s hardline stance against unconstitutional changes of government, making the discovery of a coup plot within Nigeria’s own military particularly sensitive.
The foiling of the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu prompted significant military leadership changes, with President Tinubu dismissing all service chiefs in October 2025 and appointing new leadership across the armed forces.
Next Steps: Military Court-Martial
With investigations concluded and the report submitted to President Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, all indicted officers will face military court-martial proceedings in accordance with established procedures.
“Upon completion of investigation, indicted officers will face the full military disciplinary process in accordance with established procedures to ensure accountability and preserve professionalism within the Armed Forces,” the Defence Headquarters stated.
The trials will determine the legal fate of officers implicated in what investigators describe as a well-funded, coordinated threat that progressed to advanced planning stages before being disrupted by intelligence agencies.
For Nigeria’s democratic institutions, the successful foiling of the Colonel plot to overthrow Tinubu represents both a vindication of intelligence gathering capabilities and a sobering reminder of persistent fragility in civil-military relations, even 25 years after the country’s return to civilian rule.
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