Inside the Foiled Plot: How Security Agencies Unravelled an Alleged Bid to Oust Tinubu.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline January 1, 2026.
Fresh details have emerged from a closed-door security investigation that culminated in the arrest of 40 individuals over an alleged plan to violently remove President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office, a plot that investigators say cut across military ranks, security institutions and civilian networks.
Security sources familiar with the probe disclosed that the suspects include serving and retired officers of the armed forces, a serving police officer, and several civilians recruited to handle intelligence gathering, funding, logistics and public messaging. The investigation, which lasted several weeks, was conducted quietly by Nigerian security agencies using layered surveillance and intelligence-led operations.
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Those arrested were picked up in a coordinated covert operation jointly executed by the Army Headquarters and the State Security Service (SSS), spanning multiple locations across the country. Of the total number of suspects, 13 were apprehended directly by the SSS, including two military personnel—one serving and one retired—one serving police officer, and ten civilians.
According to security briefings, investigators identified at least 16 military officers as being directly involved in the alleged conspiracy. Two civilians were said to have been assigned reconnaissance duties, while another two were allegedly recruited to incite public unrest that would serve as justification for a forceful takeover. Five additional suspects were linked to funding channels believed to have supported the plan.
During the operation, one detained soldier reportedly escaped from custody, triggering an intensive manhunt. He was later tracked to Bauchi State and rearrested by SSS operatives, underscoring what officials described as the “fluid and high-risk” nature of the operation.
On Monday, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the investigation had been concluded and that its report had been forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.” In a statement, military authorities said the probe uncovered “several officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing the conduct as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
Investigators revealed that the alleged conspirators initially set their sights on the 2023 transition period, with intelligence reports indicating plans to disrupt the handover of power from former President Muhammadu Buhari to President Tinubu during the May 29 inauguration.That plan, however, was shelved after internal assessments pointed to inadequate funding and weak logistics.
Security sources say the plot was revived in 2025 after fresh financial inflows were detected. Large sums of money were allegedly moved through multiple bank accounts linked to a Bureau De Change operator, a development investigators believe was aimed at reactivating the stalled operation.
A former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, was named in the investigation as one of those accused of providing financial backing. A retired senior officer, identified as General Adamu, was also linked to the funding network. Both men, along with three other suspects connected to the same channel, are currently at large, according to security officials. One fleeing suspect was traced to a South American country, though his precise location was withheld for security reasons.
As part of the probe, investigators compiled a detailed list of alleged conspirators, including senior officers attached to key military formations and command units. Those named include Brigadier General M. A. Sadiq of the Army Headquarters Garrison; Colonel M. A. Ma’aji of the Defence Space Administration; and Lieutenant Colonels A. A. Hayatu, P. Dangnap, M. Almakura, A. A. Jarma and S. M. Gana, drawn from battalions and special forces units nationwide. The list also features majors, captains, lieutenants, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Several civilians were also identified in the report. They include Umoru Zekeri, described as a villa electrician; Ali Isah, a villa ambulance driver; and Stanley Kingsley Amandi, whom investigators described as a propagandist allegedly engaged to shape public narratives in support of the plot. Retired personnel named include Navy Captain E. O. Victor and retired Major General I. M. Gana.
Security agencies say efforts are ongoing to dismantle any remaining cells linked to the alleged conspiracy, with intensified surveillance, intelligence sharing and cross-border coordination now underway. All arrested suspects, officials added, will face further internal and legal processes as determined by the relevant authorities.
While the investigation has officially been wrapped up, security sources suggest its implications are still unfolding, casting a stark light on the depth of coordination required to threaten constitutional order—and the equally complex machinery deployed to stop it.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 1ST 2026)
