Nigerian authorities have detained at least sixteen senior military officers over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, sources have confirmed.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria initially attributed the arrests to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations” and cited repeated failures in promotion exams as a source of discontent. In a statement, Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, said some officers were already under trial for various offenses and that their conduct violated military standards.

However, insiders from the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) told SaharaReporters that the officers, led by a Brigadier-General, were planning a coup to take control of the government. The alleged plot was reportedly uncovered through intelligence operations conducted by the DIA and partner agencies.

“The 16 officers, ranging from Captain to Brigadier-General, were plotting to overthrow President Tinubu and establish a military government,” a source revealed. “They were arrested at their homes across the country and remain in detention at DIA.”

The attempted coup is also linked to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade, which was initially scheduled to celebrate Nigeria’s 65th anniversary. Officials acted after intelligence suggested the officers planned to launch the coup during the parade, targeting the President and other senior politicians.

Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the country has experienced five successful military coups. Allegations of corruption within the military have been cited by some officers as a reason for disillusionment with the service.