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Fresh intelligence has emerged on the foiled coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, revealing how a serving Army Colonel allegedly assembled a covert, cross-service network aimed at undermining Nigeria’s constitutional order before security agencies intervened.
The revelations follow the Defence Headquarters’ confirmation of the arrest of 16 military officers for acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, after weeks of quiet tension within the Armed Forces.
In October 2025, rumours of a coup plot circulated widely on social media. At the time, the Defence Headquarters dismissed the claims as “false and misleading,” even as the sudden cancellation of the Independence Day parade heightened speculation over internal security concerns.
However, findings from an interim investigation report obtained by Punch Newspapers indicate that the alleged mastermind was a Colonel whose repeated failures in promotion examinations reportedly led to deep resentment. Investigators say he allegedly channelled this frustration into recruiting officers across the Army, Navy and Air Force, forming a loose but coordinated network.
According to the report, members of the group were tasked with discreetly studying sensitive locations, including the Presidential Villa, the Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and international airports in Abuja and Lagos. The goal was to map access routes, routines and potential vulnerabilities, with early planning gradually taking shape.
Security sources said a search of the Colonel’s vehicle uncovered charms and anti-government materials, while a raid on his residence in Lokogoma, Apo, allegedly yielded documents outlining assigned roles and plans for handling key national figures once the operation began.
Investigators also alleged that the plotters exploited insider access, infiltrating the Presidential Villa and compromising workers linked to construction firm Julius Berger to obtain security-related information. Encrypted communication platforms were reportedly used to coordinate logistics, funding and movements, while unusual cash flows and discreet vehicle repairs pointed to preparations for mobilisation.
Financial inducements ranging from N2 million to N5 million were allegedly paid to some key actors, with intelligence agencies now tracking the money trail through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
One of the suspects, Lt-Col S. Bappah, is said to have turned a key witness, admitting his involvement and providing details on recruitment strategies, funding channels and communication patterns within the network.
Security officials noted that the major risk lay in the cross-service nature of the plot, which reportedly involved officers from all three arms of the military, including personnel up to the rank of Brigadier-General.
The alleged plan, uncovered ahead of its proposed execution date of October 25, 2025, was described as far-reaching, with the President, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, service chiefs and other senior officials reportedly listed as targets.
Beyond the military, investigators are now expanding the probe to identify possible civilian financiers and political contacts linked to the suspects. Communication records, financial transactions and external connections are being reviewed to dismantle every layer of the network.
With investigations concluded and reports submitted to higher authorities, the Defence Headquarters has confirmed that indicted personnel will face appropriate military judicial panels, as Nigeria’s security establishment moves to ensure that the alleged plot never advances beyond the planning stage.
