The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has concluded a highly anticipated investigation into sixteen serving officers initially detained in October 2025 over alleged indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, with a significant number now accused of plotting to overthrow the federal government, defence authorities confirmed today.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Major-General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), said the internal inquiry had been conducted in strict adherence to established military procedures and that the findings had now been forwarded to the appropriate superior authorities for further action.
The matter traces back to October 2025, when the DHQ announced the arrest of sixteen officers for various acts of indiscipline and infringements of service regulations — a group whose ranks were reported to span junior to senior officer levels, according to earlier accounts.
At the time, military authorities maintained that the arrests were part of routine internal disciplinary processes and not linked to any security threat, attributing the alleged misconduct in preliminary stages largely to issues such as career frustrations and breaches of service conduct.
However, as the investigation unfolded over the past three months, new evidence surfaced implicating several of the officers in activities consistent with an attempt to undermine constitutional authority, including alleged clandestine discussions and coordination aimed at destabilising the civilian administration.
In his statement on Monday, Maj-Gen. Uba confirmed that:
• The comprehensive investigation examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.
• A number of the officers were found to have allegations against them involving plotting to overthrow the government — conduct described as incompatible with the ethics, values and professional standards of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
• Those officers with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels and tried under the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.
Military authorities emphasised that the actions being taken are purely disciplinary and institutional, aimed at preserving internal discipline, cohesion and operational effectiveness, and are not designed to send political messages beyond upholding military law.
Reaffirming the AFN’s commitment to professionalism, Maj-Gen. Uba assured the public that due process and fairness would be strictly observed throughout the proceedings, underscoring that the rights of the accused will be protected under existing military statutes.
The Military spokesman reiterated that the step to court-martial officers is supported by military law and internal regulations, with the trials focusing on accountability and discipline rather than political settlement.
Meanwhile, the full identities and ranks of the 16 indicted officers are as follows:
Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (Nasarawa, 44th Regular Course)
Colonel M. A. Ma’aji (Niger, 47th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (Bauchi, 56th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel A. A. Hayatu (Kaduna, 56th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel Dangnan (Plateau, 56th Regular Course)
Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (Nasarawa, 56th Regular Course)
Major A. J. Ibrahim (Gombe, 56th Regular Course)
Major M. M. Jiddah (Katsina, 56th Regular Course)
Major M. A. Usman (Federal Capital Territory, 60th Regular Course)
Major D. Yusuf (Gombe, 59th Regular Course)
Major I. Dauda (Jigawa, DSSC 38)
Captain I. Bello (DSSC 43)
Captain A. A. Yusuf
Lieutenant S. S. Felix (DSSC)
Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi (Nigerian Navy)
Squadron Leader S. B. Adamu (Nigerian Air Force).
The official admission of an alleged coup plot marks a rare public acknowledgment by the Nigerian military of internal threats to democratic governance — a sensitive development in a country with a history of military interventions in politics. Analysts suggest the move to openly address the matter by prosecuting implicated soldiers signals an effort by Nigeria’s defence establishment to reinforce loyalty to constitutional authority and allay fears of wider instability.
Security experts note that such internal disciplinary actions, if transparently handled, could help strengthen institutional norms within the military while deterring future acts that threaten democratic rule.
The next phase will involve military judicial proceedings where the officers found culpable will be formally charged and tried.
Outcomes — including possible convictions, sentences or dismissals — are expected to be determined by the military courts based on the strength of evidence presented.
The impact on military morale and civil–military relations will likely be a subject of public debate in the weeks ahead.
