Particulars have begun to emerge concerning the identities of a minimum of 16 of an unknown variety of Nigerian navy officers at present being detained over an alleged coup plot.
In keeping with sources conversant in the matter, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, fourteen of the 16 are from the Nigerian Military, whereas the remaining two belong to the Navy and the Air Power.
Among the many Military officers are a brigadier normal, a colonel, 4 lieutenant colonels, 5 majors, two captains, and a lieutenant. The 2 others embrace a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy (the naval equal of a Main within the Military) and a Squadron Chief from the Air Power (additionally equal to a Main).
Additional particulars supplied by sources point out that 12 of the 14 Military officers are from the Infantry Corps, the Military’s fight arm, whose personnel primarily combat on foot. One officer serves within the Alerts Corps, answerable for navy communications, whereas one other belongs to the Ordnance Corps, which handles the procurement, storage, and upkeep of weapons, ammunition, automobiles, and different navy {hardware}.
The Military suspects are predominantly members of the 56 Common Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), who educated between 27 September 2004 and 4 October 2008. Six members of this course—4 lieutenant colonels and two majors—are among the many first batch of these arrested.
The remaining Military officers are drawn from different NDA programs, together with the forty fourth, forty seventh, 59th, and sixtieth Common Programs, in addition to Quick Service Fee Programs 38 and 43. The course affiliations of two Military officers, together with these of the naval and air drive personnel, couldn’t be instantly confirmed.
Our sources additional disclosed that 15 of the 16 detained officers are from Nigeria’s North-central, North-east, and North-west geopolitical zones. The one exception is probably the most junior amongst them—a lieutenant from the South-west.
The ‘bloody’ coup plot
PREMIUM TIMES lately reported the Nigerian navy’s graduation of a probe right into a foiled coup plot involving some prime officers arrested in late September.
Educated and dependable sources told this newspaper that the coup plotters deliberate to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the Home of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas amongst others.
With out categorically denying that the officers have been concerned in an alleged coup, the navy stated its probe of the officers “is a routine inner course of geared toward making certain self-discipline and professionalism is maintained inside the ranks.”
A sudden shake-up
Weeks after the deliberate coup was foiled and a few suspects rounded up, President Tinubu, in a significant shake-up that surprised many Nigerians, sacked the Chief of Defence Employees, Christopher Musa, changing him with erstwhile Chief of Military Employees, Olufemi Oluyede, a normal.
He additionally appointed Waidi Shaibu, a major-general, as the brand new Chief of Military Employees, Sunday Kelvin Aneke, an air vice marshal, as Chief of Air Employees and Idi Abbas, a rear admiral as the brand new Chief of Naval Employees. Emmanuel Undiendeye, a significant normal, retained his place because the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Nevertheless, the presidency didn’t hyperlink the shake-up to the alleged coup plot.
Covert arrests
Initially, the navy arrested 16 officers however insiders stated the variety of suspects have swollen over time.
Sahara Reporters reported Wednesday that as a part of the continued investigation, the navy invaded the Abuja residence of a former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, arresting his brother who was additionally recognized as his private assistant.
However the former governor denied his involvement within the coup plot. Mr Sylva, by means of his spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, stated he was touring within the UK for medical checkup, with a plan to proceed to Malaysia for a convention.
Saying “people believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters” raided his principal’s home, Mr Bokoru, stated no motive was given for the motion.
Mr Sylva’s spokesperson stated his principal “has no involvement in any respect—both in planning or in logistics—with any such plot.”
Efforts by PREMIUM TIMES to succeed in Mr Sylvia straight was unsuccessful. A number of calls to his recognized phone quantity failed to attach.
