This month mid October 2025, several media outlets reported that at least sixteen senior military officers had been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and install military rule. The officers, whose ranks ranged from Captain to Brigadier General, were reportedly connected to the Office of the National Security Adviser. One social media source claimed that most of them were from the northern region of the country.
According to SaharaReporters, one of the alleged ringleaders was Lieutenant Colonel Al-Makura, the nephew of former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Umaru Al-Makura. He had recently returned from a special combat course in China and was posted to the NSA’s office. The reported plan involved secret meetings, quiet mobilization of officers, and a strategy to declare a military government.
Some sources linked the timing of the arrests to the unexpected cancellation of the October 1st Independence Day parade, which they suggested was done to avoid giving the alleged coup plotters a chance to strike. Officially, the parade was called off due to the president’s travel plans and ongoing military focus on counter-insurgency, but whether the cancellation was routine or politically motivated remains unclear.
According to pm news Nigeria,If the coup plot was real or even partially true it reflects serious dissatisfaction within the military. Issues like career stagnation, regional tension, and frustration with power dynamics could be fueling unrest among officers.
However, if the plot was false or exaggerated, the situation still reveals a worrying level of suspicion and instability within Nigeria’s military structure. Just the mention of a coup attempt is enough to shake public confidence.
Either way, the publicized arrests and swirling rumours weaken the bond between civilians and the armed forces. When the military is seen as playing political games rather than acting as a professional institution, it threatens democracy and undermines civilian control. Social media news source said.
