Fresh intelligence has revealed the details of a foiled coup attempt targeting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, highlighting how a serving Army Colonel allegedly orchestrated a covert, cross-service network before security agencies intervened. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) previously announced the arrest of 16 officers for breaches of service regulations and acts of indiscipline following weeks of tension within the Armed Forces.
According to an interim investigation report obtained by Punch Newspapers, the alleged mastermind, a Colonel frustrated by repeated failures in promotion exams, reportedly recruited officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to form a loosely coordinated network. Members of the group were allegedly tasked with studying sensitive installations such as the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks, and international airports in Abuja and Lagos. Operational planning reportedly progressed from grievances into active reconnaissance, including mapping access routes, routines, and vulnerabilities.
Searches of the Colonel’s vehicle uncovered charms and anti-government materials, while a raid on his residence in Lokogoma, Apo, yielded sensitive documents detailing roles and instructions for key national dignitaries. Security sources also report that the conspirators exploited insider access, including contacts linked to Julius Berger, to gather intelligence on strategic locations. Encrypted communication platforms were allegedly used to coordinate movements, logistics, and funding, with financial inducements ranging from N2 million to N5 million for principal actors, now under review by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
One suspect, Lt-Col S. Bappah, reportedly became a critical witness, revealing recruitment methods, communication patterns, and funding channels. The threat was deemed highly dangerous due to its cross-service reach, involving officers up to the rank of Brigadier-General and targeting the President, Vice-President, ministers, service chiefs, and other top officials.
Investigators are now widening the probe to civilian financiers and political contacts. The DHQ has confirmed that the indicted personnel will face appropriate military judicial panels, ensuring that the well-funded, coordinated threat never advanced beyond the planning stage.
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