By Abiola Olawale
In a development that has gripped the attention of many in Nigeria, media reports have revealed the full names of detained army personnel allegedly linked to a recent plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
This information emerges amidst official denials from the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) regarding a coup plot, even as a major shake-up in the military high command was recently announced by the presidency.
Reports had revealed that at least 16 Nigerian Military officers have been detained by military authorities over an alleged connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
A report from Premium Times revealed that the alleged coup plotters represent a cross-section of the armed forces, though the Nigerian Army accounts for the majority.
Sources quoted by the newspaper indicate that 14 of the officers are from the Army, while one is from the Navy (a Lieutenant Commander) and one from the Air Force (a Squadron Leader).
The profiles of the alleged coup plotters include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant. The remaining two are a lieutenant commander from the Navy, the naval equivalent of a major, and a squadron leader from the Air Force, which holds the exact rank equivalence.
The report also gave details of how operatives from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), working in collaboration with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), tracked and uncovered the huge amount of money meant to sponsor the alleged aborted coup in the accounts of the former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva.
The secret service was said to have gone after the former Petroleum Minister (State), who has been on its wanted list for some time over his alleged role in the aborted coup plot.
Sylva, who is outside the country, is said to be the main financier of the aborted coup to topple the government of President Bola Tinubu.
But the former governor denied his involvement in the coup plot. Mr Sylva, through his spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, said he was traveling in the UK for a medical checkup, with a plan to proceed to Malaysia for a conference.
Saying “individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters” raided his principal’s house, Mr Bokoru, said no reason was given for the action.
Mr Sylva’s spokesperson said his principal “has no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or in logistics—with any such plot.”
Below is the full profile of the alleged coup plotters currently being grilled;
1. Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq
Sadiq is alleged to be the ringleader of the plot to overthrow the administration of Tinubu.
He was born on 3 January 1974. He is a brigadier general with service number N/10321, trained as an NDA cadet between 14 August 1992 and 20 September 1997.
As a member of Regular Course 44, Mr Sadiq, an indigene of Nasarawa State, rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 2015 and a brigadier four years later. He belongs to the infantry corps.
2. Colonel M.A. Ma’aji
Ma’aji is a colonel with service number N/10668. He was born on 1st March 1976. He is a native of Nupe in Niger State. Ma’aji started training on 18 August 1995 and finished on 16 September 2000. Investigators suspect he played the role of a key strategist for the coup plot.
A member of the infantry corps, Ma’aji was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2013, becoming a full colonel four years later. The 49-year-old officer was the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army based in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
3. Lt. Colonel S. Bappah
Bappah, a member of the Nigerian Army Signals Corps, with service number N/13036, is from Bauchi State in North-East Nigeria. He was born on 21 June 1984.
The 41-year-old officer started his cadet training on 27 September 2004 and completed it on 4 October 2008. He is a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA
4. Lt Colonel A.A. Hayatu
Hayatu, is a lieutenant colonel with service number N/13038. He is from Kaduna State and was born on 13 August 1983. He underwent his cadet training between 27 September 2004 and 04 October 2008.
A member of the infantry corps, Hayatu also belonged to the 56 Regular Course.
5. P. Dangnap
Dangnap is from Plateau State. He was born on 1 April 1986. In 2015, he was court-martialed alongside 29 others for offences related to the fight against Boko Haram.
The 39-year-old officer, with service number N/13025 began his cadet training on 27 September 2004 and completed it on 4 October 2008.
An infantry corps officer, Mr Dangnap is also a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA.
6. Lt. Colonel M. Almakura
Al Makura, born on March 18, 1983, is a member of the 56 Regular Course. Al Makura is a lieutenant colonel from Nasarawa State.
The infantry corps officer with service number N/12983 trained as a cadet at the NDA from 27 September 2004 to 4 October 2008.
7. Major A. J Ibrahim
Ibrahim, a major with service number N/13065, hails from Gombe State.
Born on 12 June 1987, the Infantry Corps officer trained between 27 September 2004 and 4 October 2008.
He was a member of the 56 Regular Course, and he became a captain in 2013.
8. Major M.M. Jiddah
An indigene of Katsina State, Major Jiddah, was born on 9 July 1985.
He trained between 27 September 2004 and 4 October 2008.
Jiddah is an infantry officer and a member of the 56 Regular Course. His service number is N/13003.
9. Major M.A. Usman
Usman, who was born on April 1, 1989, is a Nigerian Army major with service number N/15404.
He hails from the Federal Capital Territory, in North-central Nigeria. He is a member of the 60th Regular Course.
10. Major D. Yusuf
Yusuf, born on May 26, 1988, is a major with service number N/14753 and is a member of the Ordnance Corps.
He is a member of the 59th Regular Course. Yusuf trained at NDA between 7 July 2007 and 8 September 2012.
The officer hails from Gombe State.
11. Major I. Dauda
Dauda joined the army through the Direct Short Service Commissions.
Born on 26 November 1983, the infantry officer with service number N/13625, trained between 5 June 2009 and 27 March 2010.
Dauda, who hails from Jigawa, is a member of Short Service Commission Course 38.
12. Captain Ibrahim Bello
Bello is a captain with service number N/16266. He was born on 28 July 1987. He is a member of the Direct Short Service Commission Course 43.
13. Captain A.A Yusuf
He is an army captain with service number N/16724.
14. Lieutenant S.S. Felix
A lieutenant with service number N/18105.
15. Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi
He is a Nigerian Navy personnel with service number NN/3289.
16. Squadron Leader S. B Adamu
An Air Force squadron leader with service number NAF/3481.
