BREAKING: Five Nigerian Military Officers Detained Over Alleged Coup Against Tinubu 'Fall Ill In Custody,' Wives Plan Protest

SaharaReporters learnt that the officers initially detained at the Defence Intelligence Agency were moved into a dark, underground military cell in Abuja a few weeks ago.

At least five out of the military officers detained over the alleged coup d’état to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government have reportedly fallen ill.

SaharaReporters learnt that the officers initially detained at the Defence Intelligence Agency were moved into a dark, underground military cell in Abuja a few weeks ago.

“About five of them are critically sick and two of them collapsed last week. Till now, some of them are keeping mum. One of them wasn’t even involved. He is being punished for being aware, but failing to alert the military authorities,” a military source told SaharaReporters.

Meanwhile, some families of the detainees told SaharaReporters they were not informed about the whereabouts of their relatives for months, with the officers being held incommunicado.

“We have been denied access to them since their arrest. We can’t say this was where they were moved to,” one of them said.

“We are planning to massively protest at DIA to demand their whereabouts. DIA office is beside the State House Clinic at Mambilla Barracks. About 15 of us, we want to go and ask if our husbands are still alive,” one of the wives of the arrested officers told SaharaReporters.

“Since they were arrested, the military authorities have denied them access to their families and lawyers,” she continued. “We can’t continue like this. We don’t have access to their bank accounts as they took away their ATM cards. We can’t pay for our children’s school fees and other things.”

Background

In October 2025, SaharaReporters exclusively reported the arrest of several military officers by the DIA in Abuja over an alleged plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s government.

The case is being handled by the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Lieutenant General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye, who heads the military department.

President Tinubu reappointed Undiandeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence on October 24, 2025.

He first assumed office as the 17th CDI on June 23, 2023.

The DIA, established in 1986, is Nigeria’s primary military intelligence body. It is responsible for gathering and providing intelligence to the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence to counter security threats, safeguard national integrity, and support military operations, including ongoing efforts against terrorism and insurgency.

In October 2025, top military sources disclosed the names and departments of 16 senior military officers who were at the time being detained by the DIA over the alleged plot.

SaharaReporters had earlier exclusively reported that a Nigerian Navy officer, Lieutenant Commander B. Abdullahi, was among the senior officers detained in connection with the case.

Sources at the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the officers, drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, were arrested in coordinated operations by military intelligence operatives following weeks of covert surveillance.

Below are the profiles of the detained officers as compiled by PREMIUM TIMES:

1. Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq (N/10321) Brigadier General Sadiq is believed to be the suspected leader of the alleged coup plot.

This is not his first brush with controversy. In October 2024, he was reportedly detained for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives and selling of military equipment, including generator sets and operational vehicles to scrap yards.”

2. Colonel M.A. Ma’aji (N/10668): Ma’aji, born on March 1, 1976, is a Nupe native from Niger State.

3. Lieutenant Colonel S. Bappah (N/13036): Bappah, from Bauchi State is a member of the 56 Regular Course.

4. Lieutenant Colonel A.A. Hayatu (N/13038) is a native of Kaduna State.

5. Lieutenant Colonel P. Dangnap (N/13025) is from Plateau State, Dangnap. He was court-martialed in 2015 alongside 29 others for offences linked to the Boko Haram war.

6. Lieutenant Colonel M. Almakura (N/12983): Almakura, also from Nasarawa State, was born on March 18, 1983.

7. Major A.J. Ibrahim (N/13065): He is from Gombe State and was born on June 12, 1987.

8. Major M.M. Jiddah (N/13003): Born on July 9, 1985, Major Jiddah hails from Katsina State. He is an Infantry officer and member of the 56 Regular Course (2004–2008).

9. Major M.A. Usman (N/15404) is from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

10. Major D. Yusuf (N/14753): Born on May 26, 1988, Major Yusuf hails from Gombe State. He serves in the Ordnance Corps.

11. Major I. Dauda (N/13625): From Jigawa State, Major Dauda joined the Army through the Direct Short Service Commission (Course 38).

12. Captain Ibrahim Bello (N/16266): Born on July 28, 1987, Captain Bello is a member of the Direct Short Service Commission Course 43.

13. Captain A.A. Yusuf (N/16724): Captain Yusuf is a Nigerian Army officer with limited public records available.

14. Lieutenant S.S. Felix (N/18105): Lt. Felix is among the junior officers in detention. Details about his role remain unclear.

15. Lieutenant Commander D.B. Abdullahi (NN/3289): Lt. Commander Abdullahi serves in the Nigerian Navy and is one of two non-Army officers detained in connection with the alleged coup plot.

16. Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu (NAF/3481): Squadron Leader Adamu serves in the Nigerian Air Force. His alleged involvement remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had reported that military operatives raided the Abuja residence of a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in connection with the alleged coup plot currently under investigation by the DIA.

Multiple security sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the operation took place at Sylva’s home in Maitama, Abuja.

According to the sources, a “special military team” carried out the raid after intelligence reports linked a “former South-South governor” to alleged secret meetings with some of the detained military officers.

Sylva later confirmed the military raid on his Abuja residence in a statement, but denied any involvement in the alleged coup plot.