The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that investigations into 16 serving officers earlier arrested over acts of indiscipline and breach of service regulations have been concluded, with findings indicating that some of them were allegedly involved in plotting to overthrow the government.
In a press statement issued on Monday and signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) said the outcome of the probe had been forwarded to appropriate superior authorities in line with extant military regulations.
“It would be recalled that the Defence Headquarters issued a press statement in October 2025 regarding the arrest of sixteen officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations,” the statement said.
The military disclosed that a “comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures,” had examined the circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.
According to the AFN, “the findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN.”
The DHQ added that officers found to have a case to answer would be subjected to trial.
“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” the statement noted.
The military insisted that the actions being taken were strictly internal disciplinary measures.
“The AFN reiterates that measures being taken are purely disciplinary and part of ongoing institutional mechanisms to preserve order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the ranks,” it said, adding that the Armed Forces remain “resolute in maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, loyalty and respect for constitutional authority.”
The DHQ’s confirmation comes months after SaharaReporters first reported in October 2025 that several officers across the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force were arrested in Abuja over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
At the time, both the Defence Headquarters and the Presidency denied any coup-related motive, describing the arrests as connected only to internal disciplinary issues.
However, multiple senior security sources later confirmed that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) had submitted a detailed report of its internal investigation to President Tinubu after more than two months of interrogations and reviews.
According to officials, the probe focused on acts described by the military as “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” but evidence presented to the President allegedly suggested that the issues went beyond routine infractions.
A senior security official was quoted as saying that the submission of the report marked the end of the investigative phase and cleared the way for presidential directives on the next line of action.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had reported on January 23, 2026, that at least five of the detained officers fell ill while in custody, with two reportedly collapsing due to worsening conditions.
Sources disclosed that the officers were allegedly transferred from an initial DIA detention facility to an underground military cell in Abuja described as dark and poorly ventilated.
Families of the detained officers have repeatedly raised concerns over what they described as inhumane treatment, prolonged incommunicado detention, and denial of access to lawyers and relatives.
Some spouses told SaharaReporters that they were not informed of transfers between detention facilities and had been barred from visits since the arrests.
The case has also drawn political attention following reports that military operatives raided the Maitama, Abuja residence of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in connection with the investigation.
Sylva later confirmed the visit but denied any involvement, describing attempts to link him to the matter as politically motivated.
Despite earlier official denials of any coup plot, Monday’s statement by the DHQ now formally acknowledges that allegations of plotting to overthrow the government were among the findings against some of the detained officers.
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