Nigeria's deputy head of state, Lieut. Gen. Oladipo Diya, has been arrested in connection with a coup plot against the Government of Gen. Sani Abacha, defense officials said today.

An official statement was broadcast on radio but did not give any details of the alleged plot. It said the military was still investigating.

The Nigerian capital, Abuja, was reported quiet tonight, with no signs of increased security.

General Diya, the second in command of the country behind General Abacha, was arrested along with 11 others, including two major generals -- Tajudeen Olarenwaju and Abdulkareem Adisa -- who were until recently Ministers of Communications and Public Works respectively, the statement said.

In a broadcast on Nigerian television, the Government pledged to ''strongly resist any attempt to undermine the security, integrity of the nation and, thereby, derail the ongoing transition to a democratically elected government

If he had killed them there would have been war. That was a Hausa coup. He wanted to kill all Yoruba military personnel. That is what is happening by this Democratic govt, they are sending our soldiers into war unprotected and not adequately equipped.

slimfit1:
If he had killed them there would have been war. That was a Hausa coup. He wanted to kill all Yoruba military personnel. That is what is happening by this Democratic govt, they are sending our soldiers into war unprotected and not adequately equipped.

To Abacha all the accused are Yorubas that deserved to be purged out of the military despite the fact are from Kwara state a political North. You see an average northern politician and dictator sees every Yoruba has Yoruba when they have the power they don't give a Bleep whether you Christian, Muslim or Atheist. They see us a threat that deserved to be cut down.

The coup was just an excuse to got rid of the top Yoruba military officer at that time

God used Abacha to be a lesson to our politicians and other greedy people.

That experience humbled Gen Diya till date.