The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), under the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, has been credited with foiling what insiders describe as the most dangerous coup attempt in Nigeria’s recent history.
Security sources told PRNigeria that the plot, uncovered weeks ago by defence intelligence operatives, involved plans to assassinate senior political and military leaders, including officials in the Presidency, principal officers of the National Assembly, top security chiefs, and the National Security Adviser.
“The coup would have been bloody beyond imagination. The planning didn’t start this year. It wasn’t just about seizing power, it was a blueprint for mass elimination and the total paralysis of Nigeria’s leadership structure,” a senior source revealed.
According to top officials, the conspiracy was detected exclusively through the DHQ’s internal counterintelligence network without input from other security agencies.
Investigators disclosed that the suspects had procured vehicles and tactical equipment, some designed for disguise and covert mobility. They had also infiltrated sensitive government areas to enable quick access during the planned strike.
According to PRNigeria, forensic experts are now tracing billions of naira in financial transactions allegedly linked to political sponsors accused of bankrolling the operation. Civilian collaborators have also been drawn into the investigation.
So far, 16 military officers have been arrested in connection with the plot. While the Federal Government and DHQ initially dismissed reports of a coup as “false and misleading,” new intelligence confirms that a sophisticated conspiracy was uncovered.
Military insiders described the detained officers as disgruntled personnel who had failed promotion exams or endured stagnant postings.
“That frustration was weaponised. They were manipulated into believing they were fighting for justice or reform. In truth, they were pawns in a dangerous political game,” a source close to the probe said.
Security analysts who spoke with the platform noted that the plotters defied Nigeria’s usual ethno-religious divisions, with conspirators drawn from both Christian and Muslim backgrounds and from the North and South.
“The irony is striking. This was a reckless and unfathomable alliance united only by a shared willingness to undermine democracy,” one analyst observed.
Security experts have commended the DHQ’s swift handling of the threat but warned that the grievances exploited to fuel the conspiracy must be addressed to prevent future unrest.