Fresh details have emerged on the identities of 16 senior military officers detained over the alleged foiled coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

According to exclusive findings by another online media, the Premium Times, 14 of the detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, while two others are drawn from the Navy and Air Force.

Sources said 12 of the army officers serve in the Infantry Corps — the frontline combat unit responsible for ground operations.

One officer is attached to the Signals Corps, which manages communications, and another to the Ordnance Corps, in charge of military weapons and logistics.

The arrested officers reportedly include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant.

They are being held as military investigators continue to unravel the scope and motive of the alleged coup attempt.

While the Defence Headquarters has kept silent on the case, it earlier denied that the investigation was the reason for the low-key Independence Anniversary held on October 1.

Profiles of the Detained Officers

Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (N/10321) is believed to be the ringleader. Born on January 3, 1974, he trained at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) between 1992 and 1997 as part of the 44th Regular Course.

An indigene of Nasarawa State, he rose to brigadier general in 2019.

Sadiq, from the Infantry Corps, was once Commander of the 3rd Brigade in Kano and Garrison Commander of 81 Division in Lagos. He was previously detained in 2024 for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives and sale of military equipment.”

Colonel M. A. Ma’aji (N/10668) from Niger State is a 49-year-old Infantry officer, suspected to be a strategist in the alleged coup.

A member of the 47th Regular Course, he once commanded the 19 Battalion in Ondo State and participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II in 2017.

Lt. Colonel S. Bappah (N/13036) from Bauchi State serves in the Signals Corps. Born in 1984, he completed his NDA training in 2008. Lt. Colonel A. A. Hayatu (N/13038), from Kaduna, and Lt. Colonel M. Almakura (N/12983), from Nasarawa, are both Infantry officers of the 56th Regular Course.

Lt. Colonel P. Dangnap (N/13025), from Plateau, was court-martialed in 2015 for alleged misconduct during the Boko Haram war.

Major A. J. Ibrahim (N/13065), Major M. M. Jiddah (N/13003), and Major M. A. Usman (N/15404) are Infantry officers from Gombe, Katsina, and the FCT respectively. Major D. Yusuf (N/14753), from Gombe, belongs to the Ordnance Corps, while Major I. Dauda (N/13625) from Jigawa joined through the Short Service Commission.

Other detained officers include Captain Ibrahim Bello (N/16266), Captain A. A. Yusuf (N/16724), Lieutenant S. S. Felix (N/18105), Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi (NN/3289) from the Navy, and Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (NAF/3481) from the Air Force.

So far, the military has neither confirmed nor denied the reported arrests. Officials have maintained tight lips, even as public anxiety grows over what appears to be the country’s most serious internal threat since the early years of democracy.

Until the Defence Headquarters speaks decidedly, the mystery surrounding this so-called foiled coup may continue to divide public opinion between those who fear potential instability in the polity, and those who believe the coup rumor is hoax with political motivations.

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