The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) has submitted a classified report to President Bola Tinubu, concluding that senior military officers detained over an alleged coup plot committed “serious” acts of misconduct and breaches of service regulations, Apples Bite Magazine reveals.
The investigation, which contradicts the military’s initial public dismissals, has left the fate of 16 officers, including a Brigadier-General, in the hands of the Commander-in-Chief, who must now decide on potential court-martial proceedings.
The Report
According to multiple senior security and Presidential Villa sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the DIA’s report was delivered to President Tinubu after more than two months of interrogations and internal review. The probe centred on what the Armed Forces internally classified as acts of “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
A high-ranking source within the Presidential Villa confirmed that military authorities had briefed the President, stating that “the matter was serious” and that the report’s findings indicated “actions by some of the detained officers that aligned with what the media initially reported.”
This marks a stark contrast to the official narrative from October 2025. Following the officers’ arrests, both the Defence Headquarters and the Presidency categorically denied any connection to a coup plot, attributing the detentions to “routine military exercise” and “internal disciplinary matters.” The public, however, widely linked the arrests to the unexplained, last-minute cancellation of the 2025 Independence Day parade, fueling rumours of deep-seated unrest within the ranks.
The detained officers represent a broad cross-section of the Nigerian military:
- Highest Ranking: Brigadier-General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, an infantry officer from Nasarawa State, repeatedly named in intelligence circles as the alleged ringleader. Sadiq has a controversial past, including a prior 2024 detention over accusations of diverting palliatives and selling military equipment.
- Others Detained: The group includes a Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, a Lieutenant, a Lieutenant Commander (Navy), and a Squadron Leader (Air Force). Security sources note a significant concentration from the Army’s frontline Infantry Corps.
“Direct Involvement” vs “Failure to Report”
While the DIA’s report underscores serious misconduct, a compelling counter-narrative emerges from within the military. One military source intimately familiar with the investigation told Apples Bite Magazine that not all officers are accused of direct involvement in any plot.
“Some of the officers were being punished not for direct involvement in any plot, but for allegedly having prior knowledge of suspicious activities and failing to alert authorities,” the source revealed. “One of them wasn’t even involved. He is being punished for being aware but not reporting.”
This claim points to a potential internal purge focused on enforcing loyalty and deterring silence, even among those not directly conspiratorial.
“Inhumane” Conditions
Beyond the political intrigue, a human rights crisis is unfolding in secret detention facilities. SaharaReporters’ investigation confirms that:
- Deteriorating Health: At least five detained officers have fallen ill in custody, with two reportedly collapsing due to worsening conditions.
- Secret, Subpar Confinement: Officers were moved from initial DIA holding cells to an underground military cell in Abuja, described by sources as “dark and poorly ventilated.”
- Families Cut Off and Impoverished: Spouses report being completely cut off, unaware of their husbands’ whereabouts or health status. “We don’t know… whether they are alive or sick,” one wife stated. Another lamented the confiscation of the officers’ bank cards, plunging families into financial hardship and an inability to pay school fees or meet basic needs.
Political Shadows
The case extends beyond the barracks. In a move that signalled the probe’s wide net, military operatives raided the Abuja residence of former Minister Timipre Sylva. While Sylva denies any involvement and calls the action “politically motivated,” the raid underscores the investigation’s perceived gravity.
With the report now on his desk, President Tinubu faces a consequential decision. He can order a high-profile court-martial, which would publicly air the military’s findings, or approve quieter administrative sanctions. His choice will send a definitive message about tolerance for dissent and conspiracy within the Armed Forces.
For the 16 officers, the end of the investigation offers no relief. They remain in a legal and physical limbo, their health declining and families suffering, as the nation awaits the President’s verdict.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
