By Abiola Olawale
A chilling plot to assassinate Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has reportedly been uncovered, with revelations that the conspirators managed to infiltrate his inner security detail.
The sophisticated attempt is reportedly part of the alleged link to elements suspected of plotting a coup against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
A report by TheCable revealed that an air force officer recently posted to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was reportedly detailed to assassinate Ribadu.
The air force officer is purportedly identified to be Squadron Leader S. B Adamu, with service no NAF/3481 from Jigawa state.
According to sources quoted by the media report, Adamu was posted to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) — a programme coordinated by ONSA — four weeks before the alleged coup plot was botched.
It was gathered that Adamu is the only one linked to the NCTC out of the 16 military personnel arrested over an alleged link to overthrowing the administration of Tinubu.
Military sources told TheCable that when Adamu Garba Laka, a major general and national coordinator of NCTC, requested a specific officer to be posted to the centre in August 2025, he was surprised that his request was not approved.
Instead, Adamu was posted to the office — and this is now fuelling speculation that the alleged coup plotters had infiltrated the military hierarchy.
Adamu was a member of regular course 59 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The detailed squadron leader was allegedly detailed to “take out” Ribadu just as some other officers were tasked with killing other senior government officials.
Recall that the reports of an alleged coup plot to overthrow Tinubu have intensified public speculation, particularly since the detention of about 16 senior military officers amid reports of the alleged coup plot.
However, the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, in a statement on October 4, said that 16 officers were detained for breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.
“Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations,” the statement partly read.
