By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Several Nigerian Army officers accused of plotting a coup to overthrow President Bola Tinubu have been identified as personnel attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA),
ONSA, led by Nuhu Ribadu—a lawyer and retired police officer serving as National Security Adviser to the President—comprises staff drawn from the intelligence community, armed forces, law enforcement, and paramilitary services.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported the arrest and detention of senior military officers, led by a Brigadier General, for allegedly planning a coup during Nigeria’s October 1st Independence Day celebrations.
Although the Nigerian military stated that the officers’ arrest was due to “repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation,” top defence sources confirmed they were actually apprehended over an alleged plan to topple the government.
According to a senior Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) official, the officers had begun holding secret meetings to “overthrow the President and other top government officials.”
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were only being diplomatic in their public statement,” the source said, adding that the suspects, whose ranks range from Captain to Brigadier-General, are still in DIA custody after being arrested from their homes across the country.
Another source revealed that the alleged coup plot was the reason the Independence Day parade marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary was cancelled.
A senior intelligence officer further disclosed that most of the detained officers are Northerners attached to the NSA’s office, identifying their alleged ringleader as Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura, who recently returned from a combat course in China.
The officer is said to be a nephew of former Nasarawa State Governor and current Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Board Chairman, Tanko Umaru Al-Makura.
“The ring leader of the coup is Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura. There are two brothers with that name in the Army—both Lieutenant Colonels. One, the Commanding Officer of 343 Artillery Regiment in Elele, was detained briefly but later released after being cleared of involvement in the plot,” the source said.
He explained that the accused officer, who was recently posted to the NSA’s office, is known as a no-nonsense infantry officer popular in Maiduguri, Borno State.
“Seeing the full list of the accused officers, most of them are from Northern Nigeria, and sadly, the younger ones among them were deceived into joining the plan,” he added.
The source also confirmed that none of the detained officers has been allowed access to their family members since their arrest.