A report by PRNigeria has detailed how an intelligence operation within the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), under the leadership of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, successfully intercepted what insiders are describing as the most dangerous coup attempt in recent Nigerian history.
According to the report, the plot, which was uncovered several weeks ago by defence intelligence operatives, involved plans to carry out coordinated assassinations of senior political and military figures, including top officials in the Presidency, principal officers of the National Assembly, key security chiefs, and the National Security Adviser.
A senior security source quoted by PRNigeria said, “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.”
The revelation emerged amid ongoing investigations into the arrest of 16 military officers over alleged breaches of service regulations.
While both the Federal Government and the DHQ initially dismissed reports of a coup attempt as false and misleading, fresh intelligence indicates that a sophisticated and dangerous conspiracy was indeed uncovered.
According to high-ranking sources cited in the report, the plot was detected exclusively through the DHQ’s internal counterintelligence network, without the involvement of other security agencies.
The suspects had allegedly procured vehicles and tactical equipment, some intended for disguise and covert movement. They had also infiltrated sensitive government zones to enable swift access during the planned strike.
Investigations have since been expanded to include civilian collaborators. Forensic experts are reportedly tracing financial transactions and communication links, with billions of naira discovered in bank accounts allegedly connected to political sponsors believed to be funding the operation.
Despite the scale of the conspiracy, and contrary to speculation in some quarters, sources confirmed that none of the detained officers had any links to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). Military insiders described the arrested personnel as mostly disgruntled officers who had failed promotion examinations or been in stagnant postings for extended periods.
“That frustration was weaponised,” an investigation source was quoted as saying. “They were manipulated into believing they were fighting for justice or reform. In truth, they were pawns in a dangerous political game.”
Security analysts noted the unusual composition of the conspirators, reportedly drawn from both Christian and Muslim backgrounds and from Northern and Southern regions of the country.
“The irony is striking,” one analyst observed. “This was a reckless and unfathomable alliance that defied Nigeria’s usual ethno-religious fault lines, united only by a shared willingness to undermine democracy.”
In response to the revelations, the Defence Headquarters reiterated its commitment to democratic governance, emphasising that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain loyal to the Constitution and the President.
The DHQ’s swift and discreet handling of the threat has been commended by security experts, who warn that while the immediate danger may have been averted, the underlying grievances that fuelled the plot must be addressed to prevent future unrest.
Although the report presents a detailed account of the alleged coup plot, DHQ denied and explained that the detained officers are facing investigations for professional misconduct, not coup-related offences.
Culled from Newsmakersng
