Top intelligence sources have revealed details of an alleged coup plot in which disgruntled military officers reportedly planned to assassinate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other senior officials, in what has been described by insiders as one of the boldest threats to Nigeria’s democracy in recent years.
Premium Times earlier reported that around 20 officers were arrested and detained for allegedly orchestrating the coup.
A senior military source familiar with the development told Premium Times newspaper that the unfolding plot generated considerable tension within government and security circles, and played a role in the cancellation of the National Independence Day parade scheduled for 1 October.
Plot Timeline & Targets
According to insider accounts, the dissidents had earmarked 25 October as the tentative date for the coup. “If things did not work out that day, they would continue to plot,” the source said.
Key officials—including Tinubu, Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas—were named among those targeted for coordinated assassination. “They also planned to arrest top military officers, including the service chiefs,” the source disclosed, though they claimed that killing the service chiefs was not part of the original design.
Sources say the plotters intended to hit all their targets simultaneously “Wherever they were, they would be assassinated.”
The conspiracy reportedly involved operatives within and around the Presidential Villa. “They have people in the villa that monitor movements of these officials,” an insider said.
Reaction & Ongoing Investigation
Neither the Presidency nor the military has publicly responded to these new claims. The initial announcement from the Defence Headquarters alleged the arrested officers were detained for issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations, with grievances tied to career stagnation and failed promotion exams.
An investigative panel has since been constituted to probe the roles of those arrested.
Why the Parade Was Scrapped
Insiders claim that the foiled coup plot was a decisive factor in the abrupt cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day military parade. Intelligence reports, the sources say, indicated the coup was planned to coincide with the parade—raising fears that high-profile officials would be vulnerable during the event.
One officer stated, “The parade could have been held since the arrests were made before 01 October, but the government did not want to take risk since it was a military ceremony.”
As more facts surface, this high-stakes plot underscores the fragility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the importance of robust oversight of security agencies.
