The Defence Headquarters has dismissed as false reports alleging that the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations was due to an attempted coup against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nigeria traditionally marks its independence on October 1st with elaborate parades and ceremonies. However, in 2025, the president cancelled the scheduled parade, though he still delivered an address to the nation on that day.
Shortly after the cancellation, reports emerged claiming that 16 military officers—ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier General—had been dismissed from service. According to these unverified reports, the officers were allegedly taken into custody by the Defence Intelligence Agency following accusations of holding secret meetings to plot a coup against the government.
In response to these claims, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, issued an official statement on Saturday in Abuja, categorically denying the allegations. He described the reports about the Nigerian Armed Forces as “entirely false, malicious, and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the people.”
The statement clarified that the decision to cancel the 65th Independence Anniversary parade was made for two specific reasons: to allow President Bola Tinubu to attend a strategic bilateral meeting abroad, and to enable the Armed Forces of Nigeria to maintain focus on ongoing military operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry across the country.
Apples Bite Magazine gathered that the Nigerian Army officers currently detained for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), according to intelligence sources.
The ONSA, headed by Nuhu Ribadu—a lawyer and retired police officer serving as National Security Adviser to President Tinubu—employs staff drawn from Nigerian intelligence agencies, armed forces, law enforcement, and paramilitary units.
The Arrests
Senior military officers, including an Army Brigadier General, were arrested and detained for allegedly planning a coup d’état scheduled for October 1st, Independence Day celebrations. The group comprises 16 officers ranging from Captain to Brigadier General rank.
While the Nigerian military initially claimed in an official statement that the officers were detained due to “repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation,” multiple intelligence sources have revealed the true reason: an alleged coup plot.
Details of the Alleged Plot
A senior Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) official disclosed that the detained officers were planning to stage a coup and seize power from what they termed “selfish politicians.” The plot was reportedly uncovered through intelligence gathering by the DIA and allied agencies.
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were being diplomatic in their public statement,” the source revealed. “They had begun holding secret meetings to discuss overthrowing the President and other top government officials.”
The source added: “They are all officers within the rank of Captain to Brigadier General and remain in detention at DIA. They were apprehended recently at their homes across the country. Their primary objective was to overthrow Tinubu and establish a military government.”
Another intelligence source confirmed: “Yes, they were arrested for planning to stage a coup and seize power. That was the actual reason the Independence Day parade scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st—part of the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations—was cancelled.”
According to updated information from senior intelligence officials on Saturday evening, most of the detained officers are from Northern Nigeria and are attached to the NSA’s office.
The alleged ringleader has been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura, who recently returned from a specialized combat course in China. He is reportedly a nephew of Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, former governor of Nasarawa State and current Board Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
“The ringleader of the coup is Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura,” the intelligence official stated. “There are two Al-Makura brothers in the Army, both holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. One is the Commanding Officer of 343 Artillery Regiment in Elele. He was briefly detained but released Friday night after investigations cleared him of involvement.”
The source continued: “The accused Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura recently returned from a course in China and was posted to the NSA office several months ago. He is a no-nonsense infantry officer highly regarded in Maiduguri, Borno State. Both Al-Makura brothers are nephews of the former governor.”
Intelligence sources indicate that the majority of the accused officers are from Northern Nigeria. “Sadly, the younger officers among them were deceived into joining the plan,” one source noted.
Currently, none of the detained officers have access to their family members, according to officials familiar with the case.
The cancellation of the traditional Independence Day parade and the subsequent detention of these officers highlight growing security concerns within Nigeria’s military establishment. The government maintains that enhanced vigilance and intelligence operations prevented what could have been a significant threat to democratic governance.
