Officer once detained for diverting palliatives allegedly led coup plotters to kill Tinubu, overthrow government

A senior military officer previously detained over alleged diversion of government palliatives has been named as the suspected leader of a foiled plot to assassinate President Bola Tinubu and topple his administration.

Premium Times reported the identities of 16 detained senior officers linked to the alleged coup plan, including Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, who was arrested in October 2024 over accusations of diverting relief materials and selling military assets. He is now being held as the reported ringleader of the network.

Security sources say 14 of the 16 officers are from the Nigerian Army, while one is from the Navy and one from the Air Force. Twelve of the army personnel serve in the Infantry Corps — the military’s frontline combat unit — while one is from the Signals Corps and another from the Ordnance Corps.

The arrested officers include one brigadier-general, one colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and one lieutenant. The navy suspect is a lieutenant commander, and the air force detainee is a squadron leader.

Authorities allege the officers conspired to violently seize power, though the military has not publicly confirmed findings from the investigation and formal charges are yet to be announced.

Profiles of Key Detained Officers

1. Brig. Gen. Musa Abubakar Sadiq
N/10321 | b. 3 Jan 1974 | Nasarawa
Regular Course 44. Former Commander, 3rd Brigade Kano & 81 Division Garrison Lagos. Alleged ringleader. Previously detained in 2024 over alleged diversion of palliatives and sale of military equipment.

2. Col. M.A. Ma’aji
N/10668 | b. 1 Mar 1976 | Niger
Infantry. Regular Course 47. Former CO, 19 Battalion Okitipupa. Served in Operation Crocodile Smile II.

3. Lt. Col. S. Bappah
N/13036 | b. 21 Jun 1984 | Bauchi
Signals Corps. 56 Regular Course.

4. Lt. Col. A.A. Hayatu
N/13038 | b. 13 Aug 1983 | Kaduna
Infantry. 56 Regular Course.

5. Lt. Col. P. Dangnap
N/13025 | b. 1 Apr 1986 | Plateau
Infantry. 56 Regular Course. Court-martialed in 2015 over Boko Haram-related offences.

6. Lt. Col. M. Al-Makura
N/12983 | b. 18 Mar 1983 | Nasarawa
Infantry. 56 Regular Course.

7. Maj. A.J. Ibrahim
N/13065 | b. 12 Jun 1987 | Gombe
Infantry. 56 Regular Course.

8. Maj. M.M. Jiddah
N/13003 | b. 9 Jul 1985 | Katsina
Infantry. 56 Regular Course.

9. Maj. M.A. Usman
N/15404 | b. 1 Apr 1989 | FCT
Infantry. 60 Regular Course.

10. Maj. D. Yusuf
N/14753 | b. 26 May 1988 | Gombe
Ordnance Corps. 59 Regular Course.

11. Maj. I. Dauda
N/13625 | b. 26 Nov 1983 | Jigawa
Infantry. Direct Short Service Course 38.

12. Capt. Ibrahim Bello
N/16266 | b. 28 Jul 1987
DSSC 43.

13. Capt. A.A. Yusuf
N/16724 | Army

14. Lt. S.S. Felix
N/18105

15. Lt. Cdr. D.B. Abdullahi
NN/3289 | Navy

16. Sqn. Ldr. S.B. Adamu
NAF/3481 | Air Force