Summary of Exclusive Report
An exclusive report claims that at least sixteen senior military officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces led by an Army Brigadier General have been detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency DIA on suspicion of planning a coup detat to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu .
This report directly contradicts an earlier official statement from the Nigerian military regarding the arrests .
Official Military Statement vs Intelligence Sources
The initial public statement concerning the arrests was issued by the Director of Defence Information Brigadier General Tukur Gusau .
The Official Position
The Armed Forces of Nigerias official statement informed the public that a routine military exercise had led to the arrest of sixteen officers for issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations The statement suggested that the officers grievances stemmed from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations among other issues It also noted that some of the apprehended officers were already facing legal jurisdiction for various offences .
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The Intelligence Agencys Counter Claim
However top sources including a senior official of the Defence Intelligence Agency reportedly involved in the arrests provided a conflicting account to the press According to this DIA source the officers were in fact arrested over a coup plot The source stated that the official military press release was a diplomatic measure intended to douse tension and obscure the true nature of the detention .
The DIA official asserted that the officers who hold ranks from Captain to Brigadier General had begun secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials and their objective was to announce a military government The alleged coup attempt was reportedly thwarted after an intelligence gathering by the DIA and sister agencies All sixteen officers are reported to still be in detention at the DIA .
Alleged Coup Details and Independence Day Cancellation
The exclusive report further detailed the alleged coup plot and its potential link to a major national event .
The Planned Takeover
According to one source the officers plan was to execute the coup on October 1st coinciding with Nigerias 65th Independence Anniversary The plot allegedly centered on the military parade scheduled for the day where the officers planned to shoot at the President and other top politicians during the event .
Cancellation of Independence Day Parade
The report explicitly links the cancellation of the Independence Day parade to the discovery of the alleged plot It states that intelligence reports showed they planned the coup on October 1st during a military parade which prompted the National Security Adviser and other service chiefs to request the Tinubu led government to cancel the parade earlier scheduled to mark the day .
Context of Coups in Nigeria
A coup detat is defined as an overt attempt by a military organisation or other government elites to unseat an incumbent person or leadership Since gaining independence in 1960 Nigeria has a history of military interventions having experienced five successful military coups .
The report highlights that the alleged plot emerges amid recent allegations of corruption within the military which some officers and soldiers are said to blame for their disillusionment and loss of interest in the countrys military This backdrop of discontent is presented as a potential motivation for the detained officers to stage a takeover from selfish politicians .
Disclaimer
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning an alleged coup plot and military detentions Readers should cross check updates from official news outlets and government spokespersons as conflicting accounts have been reported by various sources .