NEWS & POLITICS
Nigeria dismisses alleged coup plot against President Tinubu amid military discontent
Nigerian authorities have dismissed as "entirely false" reports claiming that several military officers were detained over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
Staff Writer 
Abuja, Nigeria — October 19 (Running Africa) — In an official statement, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, refuted the claims circulated by local outlets, including Premium Times and Sahara Reporters. The reports alleged that at least 16 officers had been arrested and that a panel had been convened to investigate a purported plan to overthrow the government.
Gusau emphasized that no such arrests or investigations had taken place, warning against the spread of misinformation capable of undermining national stability and public trust in the armed forces.
However, Premium Times cited an anonymous military source who insisted that "the report is true," alleging that additional officers had been detained following the initial arrests.
Earlier this month, the army confirmed that sixteen officers were apprehended on October 4, 2025, during what it described as a routine military exercise. Officials maintained, however, that the detentions were linked to disciplinary infractions and breaches of service regulations, not to any coup-related activities.
Several reports have suggested growing discontent within Nigeria's armed forces, citing low wages, stalled promotions, and poor working conditions as sources of frustration among officers. Analysts warn that these grievances have deepened morale issues within the ranks.
The Nigerian military has spent more than a decade battling insurgencies led by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). This protracted conflict has strained resources and claimed thousands of lives, with little indication of resolution.
The latest allegations emerge amid a wave of military takeovers across West Africa, including in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, raising renewed fears about the region's fragile democratic order.
Nigeria itself has a checkered history of coups, with numerous power seizures and attempts between 1966 and 1997. The last major episode occurred in 1997, when then-military ruler Sani Abacha accused his deputy, Oladipo Diya, of plotting to overthrow his regime.
