Suspected Coup Plotters Allegedly Targeted Tinubu, Shettima, Top Officials for Assassination

Top intelligence sources have provided premium insights into the alleged plot by military officers to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration and disrupt Nigeria’s democracy.

The development, which reportedly involved the arrest and detention of approximately 20 officers, caused significant tension within the government.

According to the sources, the suspected coup planners had tentatively scheduled their strike for October 25.

“That was the tentative date,” a source noted, adding that if the initial plan failed, the plotting would have continued. The tension surrounding the plot was cited as the reason the Presidency cancelled the National Independence Day parade on October 1, despite the arrests having been made earlier.

Authorities reportedly did not want to risk a military ceremony given the sensitive situation.

Perhaps the most alarming detail provided by the sources is the alleged plan to assassinate key Nigerian officials.

The primary targets reportedly included President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.

The plotters allegedly planned to eliminate these officials simultaneously, aiming for a day when all of them would be within the country. The plan also involved arresting, but not killing, top military officers, including the Service Chiefs, before installing a military government.

Furthermore, the sources claimed the plotters worked with informants inside the Presidential Villa and around the targeted officials to monitor their movements, which would have enabled the simultaneous assassinations.

Although neither the Presidency nor the military has officially commented on the assassination details, the plot has created palpable tension.

Previously, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) spokesperson, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, confirmed on October 4 that officers were being investigated for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” stating that preliminary findings indicated their grievances stemmed from “career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.”