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Coup Plot Against Tinubu Uncovered: Weapons, Vehicles, Other Items Recovered from Suspects
Investigators recovered guns, ammunition, vehicles and cash from coup plotters, sources said. Retired Major General Adamu and other suspects were declared wanted and tracked abroad Authorities prepared court-martial proceedings for at least 25 military officers, sources added.
Exclusive findings have revealed the scale of weapons, vehicles and cash recovered from military officers and civilians suspected of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The discoveries followed an extensive inter-agency investigation led by the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye, whose panel has now concluded its probe into the foiled coup attempt.
According to Premium Times, sources familiar with the investigation, the plot involved a carefully coordinated network responsible for reconnaissance, funding, logistics and propaganda, with both serving and retired officers implicated.
Coup: Heavy weapons traced to serving officer
Investigators reportedly recovered two gun trucks, anti-aircraft (AA) guns, PKT machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) bombs, AK-47 rifles, large quantities of ammunition and tactical gear.
The cache was traced to a lieutenant colonel attached to the Nigerian Army’s 130 Battalion. “These were not random arms. They were weapons configured for rapid deployment and coordinated action,” a security source said. Vehicles procured for covert operations In addition to the arms haul, investigators seized a fleet of vehicles allegedly acquired for covert movements and intelligence gathering.
The vehicles included four Toyota Hilux trucks, one Toyota Prado SUV, two Toyota saloon cars and 32 Volkswagen Golf vehicles. Sources said the cars were used to enable discreet access to sensitive locations, including airports and other strategic facilities in Abuja.
“The vehicles allowed operatives to move around without attracting attention and to carry out reconnaissance linked to the plot,” one investigator disclosed. Retired general, others declared wanted The investigation identified a retired major general, Adamu, as a key figure connected to the network. He remains at large, along with three other suspects.
Intelligence sources revealed that one fleeing suspect was tracked to a country in South America, although his exact location has not been disclosed for security reasons, Vanguard reported.
Multiple security agencies are said to be working jointly to dismantle remaining cells linked to the plot, with ongoing surveillance and cross-border intelligence coordination. Court-martial awaits presidential approval
Dailyvoice.ng gathered that authorities are awaiting presidential approval to formally announce a court-martial for the soldiers implicated. Sixteen military officers were initially arrested for direct involvement, but further arrests followed the work of the special investigative panel led by General Undiandeye. “At least 25 military officers and personnel are expected to face trial in connection with the coup attempt,” a source close to the investigation said.
An unspecified number of civilians are also in custody and are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Service (SSS) over alleged roles in financing, logistics and coordination.
Ex-minister accused of funding plot A former governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has been accused of bankrolling the coup plot and is currently at large.
Investigators allege that Sylva transferred nearly ₦1 billion in multiple tranches to three bank accounts operated by a Bureau De Change agent to fund the conspiracy. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Plot targeted top political and military leaders
The coup was initially scheduled for 29 May 2023, during the presidential inauguration marking the handover of power from former President Muhammadu Buhari to Tinubu. Sources said it was suspended due to inadequate funding and logistical gaps.
Investigators found that the conspirators reactivated the plan in 2024 after raising additional funds. Earlier findings revealed that the plotters marked several top officials for assassination, including President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Further investigation showed that the service chiefs and the Commander of the Guards Brigade were also targeted. “There are other people on the list, but those are the key targets,” a source said.
According to multiple sources, some officers were assigned to seize control of the Presidential Villa, Niger Barracks, the Armed Forces of Nigeria Complex and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Senior military officers, including the service chiefs, were also to be detained.
“They did not intend to kill the service chiefs. They wanted to neutralise them,” one source clarified.
The conspirators reportedly planned to assassinate political leaders simultaneously, relying on informants within the Presidential Villa to monitor their movements.
“They had people inside the Villa. The idea was to eliminate the leadership at once and install a military government,” a source said.
Defence headquarters confirms probe completion
On Monday, January 26, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the investigation had been completed and transmitted to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations”. Further official actions, including prosecutions and court-martial proceedings, are expected to follow in the coming weeks.
His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has announced the date for Eid al-Fitr in Nigeria.
The Emir, who is the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, has not reported the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal, 1447AH, today, Wednesday, the 29th of Ramadan .
This was contained in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Daular Usmaniyya , signed by the Wazir of Sokoto and Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Sultan’s Palace, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.
The statement stated that the Sultan’s Palace Moon Sighting Committee had not received any reliable reports of moon sightings from anywhere in Nigeria. According to this information, Thursday, March 19, will be the day to complete the 30th day of Ramadan.
The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day of the lesser Sallah, i.e. the 1st of Shawwal 1447AH.
He urged Muslims to use this time of Eid al-Fitr to pray for peace, unity, and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The statement said: “His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, and Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has received the moon sighting report, which showed that the crescent moon was not sighted today, Wednesday.
“Accordingly, he declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as 1 Shawwal 1447AH (the Day of the Small Prayer). He also congratulated the Nigerian Muslim community on the occasion, and wished them the guidance and blessings of God.”
“He also called for continued prayers for peace, progress, and development of the country . He also wished Muslims a peaceful and prosperous Eid. May Allah (SWT) accept our acts of worship, amen.”
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri approves ₦19.6 billion Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola The Adamawa State government says the hospital aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Adamawa State Fintiri explains that the facility will serve as a training center and improve healthcare services in the North-East.
Yola, Adamawa State – Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola. The proposed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will cost the state ₦19.6 billion, and it’s expected to be completed within 52 weeks. The landmark project is designed to significantly strengthen maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare services across the state.
The project aligns with Governor Fintiri’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. The hospital will also improve access to quality healthcare and position Adamawa as a referral hub for specialized medical services in the North-East region.
As reported by Daily Trust, the hospital will be equipped with modern medical technology and specialized units when completed.
The state governor explained that the hospital capable units to handle high-risk pregnancies, neonatal intensive care, pediatric emergencies, and other complex medical cases affecting women and children. Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will also serve as a training and research centre for healthcare professionals.
It will help to strengthen capacity and improve the quality of medical services within the state’s health sector. It will offer other healthcare services like advanced diagnostic and laboratory services, fully equipped operating theatres, intensive care units, emergency response facilities, and modern inpatient wards designed to provide quality care for patients.
Recall that Fintiri’s administration executed over 100 infrastructural, educational, health, and social projects across Adamawa state, transforming both urban centres and rural communities. The administration completed major road networks, flyovers, and township roads, including the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Flyover, Yola, and the Nyibango-Yolde Pate Road in Yola South.
Over 100 new primary health care centres were built, while hospitals such as Numan General Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Yola, underwent comprehensive development and modernisation.
King Charles III ceremonially welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle on Wednesday in the first state visit by the leader of Africa’s most populous nation in nearly four decades.
Tinubu has made less formal visits to Britain several times in his tenure, and the two countries remain major partners in trade, aid and defence. London is also home to a massive Nigerian diaspora.
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the president and his wife in Windsor, west of London, on a sunny afternoon as artillery fired Salutes
The Nigerian president and his wife earlier chatted with heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Catherine at a hotel in Windsor.
The party then rode in carriages to the historic Windsor Castle, followed by cavalry in red and gold livery.
These include a Yoruba beaded throne presented to Queen Elizabeth II during an official visit in 1965.
They were also to view photographs of a Yoruba woman known as Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who became a protegee of Queen Victoria after being captured as a slave and taken to Britain by a naval captain.
In the evening, Charles and Tinubu were set to give speeches at a lavish state banquet.
‘Renewed chapter’
Nigeria’s presidency said the visit signalled a “renewed chapter” and reflected a shared commitment to “advancing trade and strengthening diplomatic ties”.
Calling the visit “historic”, London announced Nigerian companies, including banks, are expanding operations and creating hundreds of jobs in Britain, strengthening it as a global hub for African business.
Likely on the agenda are issues ranging from major Nigerian port renovations backed by Britain as well as trade, which reached £8.1 billion ($11 billion) in the year to September 2025, an 11.4 per cent year-on-year increase.
On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as members of the Nigerian community abroad, according to the official schedule.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a Christian pastor, is set to preach at London’s Lambeth Palace — the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury — on Thursday and meet representatives of the Church of England.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, although Tinubu was received by Charles in September 2024.
Before the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022, Charles also visited Nigeria four times as Prince of Wales.
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