Details have emerged regarding the identities and circumstances surrounding at least 42 Nigerian military officers currently detained over an alleged coup plot. Initial reports indicated 16 officers were arrested in late September, but sources within the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) later confirmed the number had swelled to 42. These officers are reportedly being interrogated to ascertain the extent of their involvement and whether any concrete plans for a coup existed beyond mere discussions. The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and military police are actively tracing communication links and funding trails, suggesting the number of detainees could still rise.

Among the initial batch of 16 detainees, 14 were from the Nigerian Army, while the Navy and Air Force each had one officer. The Army officers included a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant. The two non-Army personnel were a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy and a Squadron Leader from the Air Force, both equivalents of a Major in the Army. A significant portion of these Army officers, 12 out of 14, hailed from the Infantry Corps, the Army’s primary combat arm, with one from the Signals Corps and another from the Ordnance Corps.

Further insights into the Army suspects revealed that many were members of the 56 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), who trained between 2004 and 2008. Six members of this course—four lieutenant colonels and two majors—were among the first arrested. Other Army officers were drawn from various NDA courses, including the 44th, 47th, 59th, and 60th Regular Courses, as well as Short Service Commission Courses 38 and 43. Geographically, 15 of the 16 officers were from Nigeria’s North-central, North-east, and North-west geopolitical zones, with the lone exception being a lieutenant from the South-west.

The alleged plot reportedly aimed to assassinate key figures in the Nigerian government, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas. However, the Nigerian military has consistently denied the existence of a coup plot, dismissing reports as false and malicious. The Defence Headquarters clarified that the arrests and ongoing investigation are a “routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism within the ranks,” rather than a politically motivated action. The Presidency has aligned itself with this military narrative, emphasizing confidence in the loyalty of the Armed Forces.

Weeks after the alleged plot was foiled and arrests began, President Tinubu initiated a major shake-up in the military hierarchy. General Christopher Musa was replaced as Chief of Defence Staff by General Olufemi Oluyede, formerly Chief of Army Staff. Major-General Waidi Shaibu was appointed the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke became Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas assumed the role of Chief of Naval Staff. Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence. The presidency, however, did not officially link these changes to the alleged coup plot.

A notable figure implicated in the alleged plot is Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Military operatives raided his Abuja residence, and reportedly also his Bayelsa residence, arresting his brother who also served as his personal assistant. Sylva, through his media aide Julius Bokoru, vehemently denied any involvement in the coup plot, stating he was out of the country for medical reasons and a professional conference at the time of the raids. Bokoru also claimed that no reason was provided for the raid and attributed the rumors to desperate politicians seeking to undermine Sylva’s political standing. Additionally, a managing director of a federal agency was reportedly arrested and interrogated on suspicion of transferring funds to Sylva for the purported coup financing. Efforts to get clarification from the DHQ regarding the raid on Sylva's residence were unsuccessful.

A security expert and retired military officer, Bashir Galma, suggested that the government might be reluctant to confirm the coup plot to avoid deterring investors and escalating public tension in a country already grappling with economic challenges. He noted the potential long-term damage to government credibility if denials are later proven false, advocating for greater transparency, even in sensitive matters.