JUST IN: Defence Intelligence Reportedly Arrests Brigadier-General, Senior Officers Over Alleged Coup Plot to Overthrow Bola Tinubu https://t.co/2ZzGsLHucN pic.twitter.com/176o6njtBD
— Parallel Facts (@ParallelFacts) October 18, 2025
Sixteen senior Nigerian military officers have reportedly been arrested over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, though the military maintains the arrests were due to indiscipline and career grievances.
At least sixteen senior military officers have been detained by the Armed Forces of Nigeria for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, multiple top sources told SaharaReporters.
Although the military claimed the arrests were due to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” sources said the officers, led by a Brigadier General, were allegedly planning a coup d’état.
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in the statement released by the spokesperson,” a Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) source said. “They have started doing secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials.”
The officers, reportedly ranked between Captain and Brigadier-General, are currently in detention at the DIA in Abuja.
Another source disclosed that the October 1 Independence Day parade was cancelled after intelligence revealed the alleged plot to strike during the event.
“That was the main reason why the parade was cancelled. Their plan was to shoot at the President and other top politicians,” the source said.
The Defence Headquarters earlier stated the officers’ grievances stemmed from “repeated failure in promotion examinations.”
Nigeria has experienced five successful military coups since its independence in 1960.
READ MORE AT SAHARA REPORTERS.