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How Tinubu Removed Service Chiefs Amid Alleged Coup Probe, Detention Of 16 Military Officers By DIA
October 24, 2025
NEWS

President Bola Tinubu sacked all the country’s service chiefs a week after SaharaReporters exclusively reported an alleged coup attempt and the secret detention of 16 senior military officers by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Though the Presidency described the move as part of efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture,” SaharaReporters observed that the changes came after weeks of tension, suspicion, and internal investigations that pointed to possible disloyalty among key senior officers.

In an official statement signed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Tinubu had announced that General Olufemi Oluyede had been appointed the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa.

Other appointments include Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. The statement noted that Major-General E.A.P.

Undiendeye would retain his post as Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), a development that many observers see as significant, given that the DIA is currently at the centre of investigations into the alleged coup plot.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read in part.

“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria. All appointments take immediate effect.”

Despite the Presidency’s denial of any coup attempt, the latest shake-up has intensified speculation that Tinubu’s administration is facing rising distrust within the armed forces.

Reacting to the development, Babatunde Akintunde, a top official of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), accused the government of double-speak and deliberate deception of the Nigerian public.

“The President has sacked all service chiefs and appointed new ones,” Akintunde said. “This is coming after denying there was any ‘coup attempt’ while accusing the media of spreading disinformation. When we are done deceiving ourselves, we will face reality.”

The reports of the alleged coup were exclusively released by SaharaReporters on Saturday.

SaharaReporters gathered that the alleged coup plotters are military officers attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

ONSA is led by Nuhu Ribadu, a lawyer and retired police officer serving as National Security Adviser to President Tinubu.

SaharaReporters gathered further the sixteen Army officers are currently being detained incommunicado by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Multiple military sources and family members confirmed that the detained officers, taken from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, had been held for over three weeks in an undisclosed location in Abuja under what sources describe as “unusual and suspicious conditions.”

One of the families told SaharaReporters that they initially believed their relative had been kidnapped, as there was no official notice from the military about his arrest or whereabouts.

“It’s been 18 days since those 16 officers were detained in an undisclosed location. At first, we thought our brother was kidnapped before finding out what transpired from his friend who works in the NSA office,” a worried family member had told SaharaReporters.

“No official explanation from the military till date. None of the families has been allowed to visit or even call them. Everyone is scared about their present condition.”

The Defence Intelligence Agency, which operates directly under the Ministry of Defence, is typically responsible for intelligence gathering and counter-espionage — not for trying military officers accused of offences.

The agency’s decision to detain the officers, instead of referring them to their respective service authorities, has raised questions about legality and due process.

A security expert who served in the military for nine years told SaharaReporters that the DIA was overstepping its mandate.

“In the military, if an army officer offends, he is to be charged by the Nigerian Army directly wherever his or her unit is, because the dossier is with the Army. The same applies to the Navy and Air Force,” he said.

“We want to know when the DIA started handling cases of indiscipline. When did it become a military court?”

He added that if the military were truly conducting a disciplinary sweep, “over 10,000 cases” of alleged misconduct could easily surface, raising suspicions that the current crackdown is selective and politically motivated.

“Why only 16 officers? Why pick from all three services and then hand them over to the DIA? This doesn’t follow standard military procedure,” he added.

SaharaReporters

OLAADEGBU:
Though the Presidency described the move as part of efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture,” SaharaReporters observed that the changes came after weeks of tension, suspicion, and internal investigations that pointed to possible disloyalty among key senior officers.

OLAADEGBU:
Though the Presidency described the move as part of efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture,” SaharaReporters observed that the changes came after weeks of tension, suspicion, and internal investigations that pointed to possible disloyalty among key senior officers.

SmartPolician:
We all know that we will die, but we are too scared of death, including old men in power

Joeboypondeck:
Till next year

Nigerian never see anything

This is just d beginning

richiemcgold:
We've heard all these before. Nothing new in this news

Racoon:
No smoke without fire. There is no truth under the earth that will never be unearthed or revealed. Continue!

Nigerian Military Sources Reveal Identities Of All 16 Officers Detained For Alleged Coup Plot
October 30, 2025
NEWS

Top sources in the Nigerian military have finally revealed the names and departments of the 16 senior military officers currently being detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over an alleged plot to overthrow the Bola Tinubu-led government.

SaharaReporters earlier exclusively reported that an officer of the Nigerian Navy, Lieutenant Commander B Abdullahi, was identified as one of the senior military officers detained.

Sources in the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the officers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, were picked up in coordinated operations by military intelligence after weeks of secret surveillance.

Below are the profiles of the detained officers as compiled by Premium Times:

1. Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (N/10321) Brigadier General Sadiq is believed to be the suspected leader of the alleged coup plot.

This is not his first brush with controversy. In October 2024, he was reportedly detained for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives and selling of military equipment, including generator sets and operational vehicles to scrap yards.”

2. Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (N/10668)

Colonel Ma’aji, born on March 1, 1976, is a Nupe native from Niger State.

3. Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (N/13036)

Lt. Col. Bappah, from Bauchi State is a member of the 56 Regular Course.

4. Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Hayatu (N/13038)

A native of Kaduna State.

5. Lieutenant Colonel P. Dangnap (N/13025) from Plateau State, Dangnap. He was court-martialed in 2015 alongside 29 others for offences linked to the Boko Haram war.

6. Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (N/12983)

Lt. Col. Almakura, also from Nasarawa State, was born on March 18, 1983.

7. Major A.J. Ibrahim (N/13065)

From Gombe State, Major Ibrahim was born on June 12, 1987.

8. Major M.M. Jiddah (N/13003)

Born on July 9, 1985, Major Jiddah hails from Katsina State.

He is an Infantry officer and member of the 56 Regular Course (2004–2008).

9. Major M.A. Usman (N/15404)

Major Usman, from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

10. Major D. Yusuf (N/14753)

Born on May 26, 1988, Major Yusuf hails from Gombe State.

He serves in the Ordnance Corps.

11. Major I. Dauda (N/13625)

From Jigawa State, Major Dauda joined the Army through the Direct Short Service Commission (Course 38).

12. Captain Ibrahim Bello (N/16266)

Born on July 28, 1987, Captain Bello is a member of the Direct Short Service Commission Course 43.

13. Captain A.A. Yusuf (N/16724)

Captain Yusuf is a Nigerian Army officer with limited public records available.

14. Lieutenant S.S. Felix (N/18105)

Lt. Felix is among the junior officers in detention. Details about his role remain unclear.

15. Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi (NN/3289)

Lt. Commander Abdullahi serves in the Nigerian Navy and is one of two non-Army officers detained in connection with the alleged coup plot.

16. Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu (NAF/3481)

Squadron Leader Adamu serves in the Nigerian Air Force. His alleged involvement remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had reported how military operatives raided the Abuja residence of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in connection with the alleged coup plot currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Multiple security sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the raid occurred at Sylva’s home in the Maitama area of Abuja.

According to insiders, a “special military team” carried out the operation after intelligence linked a “former South-South governor” to secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers.

Sylva in a release had confirmed the military raid on his Abuja residence, while distancing himself from the alleged coup.

SaharaReporters

OLAADEGBU:
SaharaReporters earlier exclusively reported that an officer of the Nigerian Navy, Lieutenant Commander B Abdullahi, was identified as one of the senior military officers detained.