Reports from the country indicate that the arrested soldiers, whose ranks range from Captain to Brigadier General, were detained through a joint operation involving the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and other security institutions.

One of the national intelligence officials revealed that “the 16 officers were preparing a coup d’état. The authorities decided to handle the information discreetly to avoid causing panic.”

The same official added that the soldiers had been secretly holding meetings to discuss how to establish a military government.

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According to further reports, the officers had planned to topple President Bola Tinubu’s government on October 1, the day Nigeria celebrated 65 years of independence.

During the Independence Day celebrations, the military parade was cancelled at the last minute following advice from the National Security Adviser and senior military commanders who had learned of the possible threat.

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Nigeria’s military leadership later announced the arrests, describing them as a “minor disciplinary issue” related to misconduct and failure to comply with military regulations.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu has been Nigeria’s president since 2023. Despite being 73 years old, he has often faced health challenges and frequently appears weak in public, which many believe has set back the country’s progress. He is also widely criticized, especially by young people on social media.