Dalena Reporters l December 26, 2025
More than 50 military officers and civilians have been held in detention for about three months by Nigeria’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. The detainees include personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as several civilians, and their family members have reportedly been denied access to them since their arrest, raising concerns about due process and transparency.
Sources indicated that the case has been overseen by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, who was reappointed to the position in October 2025. The arrests were reportedly carried out following weeks of covert surveillance by military intelligence operatives, who coordinated operations across different branches of the armed forces.
Among those detained are high-ranking officers, including Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, believed by some security insiders to be the suspected leader of the alleged plot, and more junior officers whose roles in the alleged conspiracy are still under investigation. The list, as compiled by journalists, also includes a naval officer and an air force squadron leader, reflecting the wide net cast by the DIA’s probe.
Family members of the detainees have expressed frustration and alarm at being unable to contact their loved ones, with sources saying that access has been restricted since the arrests were made. The secrecy surrounding the detentions has sparked debate about military accountability and respect for legal rights, though authorities have not publicly detailed the evidence linking the suspects to an actual coup plot.
The ongoing situation comes amid broader tensions within Nigeria’s security establishment, and follows earlier reporting that identified some senior officers detained over closely related allegations, though official sources have at times downplayed the notion of a coup attempt in favour of internal disciplinary action.
Further developments are expected as legal counsel seeks access for families and as authorities clarify the basis for the extended detention.