Fresh details have emerged on how officers and civilians accused of involvement in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration were assigned specific roles targeting strategic locations across Abuja and other parts of the country.

According to Premium Times, investigative documents reportedly showed that participants were given responsibilities ranging from securing the Presidential Villa and Radio House to taking control of military facilities, airports and the residences of senior military officers.

The prosecution has also presented additional details of the alleged plan before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where some of the accused persons are standing trial.

According to the documents, one of the suspects, Mr Usman, was allegedly assigned to lead the operation at the Presidential Villa after conducting reconnaissance of the complex with the assistance of insiders, including a police officer identified as Ahmed Ibrahim.

During proceedings in May, the prosecution played a video exhibit in which one of the defendants, Zekeri Umoru, reportedly told investigators that the alleged planners considered cutting electricity supply to the Presidential Villa at the point of execution.

Umoru, an employee of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc attached to the Maintenance Department at the Villa, however, said he warned that an abrupt power outage would immediately attract scrutiny and could lead to workers on duty being detained and questioned.

He also claimed that the alleged planners intended to recruit between 18 and 19 persons from among soldiers, State Security Service operatives and Julius Berger employees working within the Villa.

According to his account, after he raised concerns about the proposed blackout, the alleged leader of the plot considered using force to enter the Villa if insiders failed to cooperate.

Umoru and other defendants have challenged the admissibility of the video exhibits and their extra-judicial statements, citing the circumstances in which they were obtained.

Radio House, Military Residences Targeted

The documents also outlined assignments allegedly given to other participants.

Lieutenant-Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah was reportedly assigned to take control of 102 Battalion in Zuma, Niger State.

Major Abdulkarim Ibrahim was initially said to have been tasked with securing the Armed Forces Headquarters complex before his responsibility was changed to Radio House in Abuja, where he was allegedly expected to read a nationwide broadcast announcing the takeover.

Ibrahim reportedly told investigators that Bappah was initially designated to make the announcement before the responsibility was reassigned to him.

A Nigerian Air Force squadron leader identified as S.B. Adamu was allegedly assigned to seize Air House.

Major Muhammad Jiddah was reportedly tasked with taking control of the residence of the then Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, while Major Daniel Yusuf was allegedly assigned to the residence of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa.

Captain Akinwale Yusuf, who was in Lagos, was allegedly expected to take control of a divisional headquarters in the state.

A retired colonel, M.M. Adamu, whom authorities said remained at large, was allegedly expected to coordinate activities from the entrance of Niger Barracks in Abuja.

Airports Marked As Key Targets

The documents further indicated that airports were considered crucial to the success of the alleged operation.

Ibrahim reportedly told investigators that the conspirators believed the takeover could be undermined if aircraft continued operating normally.

According to his statement, the plan allegedly included positioning a gun truck on an Abuja airport runway to disrupt flight operations during the operation.

Lieutenant Sunday Felix also reportedly told investigators that he was assigned to survey the Lagos airport, gather operational information and help disrupt flight activities on the execution day.

“I knew the airport’s security arrangements due to my role in traffic control during visits of VIPs,” Felix reportedly told investigators.

Troops, Vehicles Allegedly Mapped Out

Investigative records also reportedly showed that the alleged conspirators planned to mobilise personnel, vehicles, weapons and ammunition from several military formations.

Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji allegedly told investigators that Usman would source resources from the 45 Special Forces Battalion in Bida.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ponfa Dangnap was reportedly expected to mobilise troops and equipment from 134 Battalion in the North-East, while Ibrahim was allegedly tasked with sourcing resources from 198 Battalion.

Ma’aji also reportedly claimed that Dangnap and Lieutenant-Colonel Abulrahman Hayatu had assured him they had access to sufficient troops, vehicles, ammunition and weapons, although no final execution date had been communicated to them.

Ibrahim reportedly told investigators that Dangnap was expected to provide four gun trucks, while Hayatu would allegedly contribute two gun trucks and accompanying soldiers.

Another suspect, Bayawo Abdullahi, was said to have been assigned to mobilise personnel from a naval unit under his command.

He reportedly told investigators that he had about 14 personnel and access to three operational Hilux vehicles.

Officers Disagreed Over Bloodshed

The documents also contained differing accounts about how senior military officers were to be treated if the alleged takeover succeeded.

Ibrahim reportedly told investigators that he warned Ma’aji against bloodshed, arguing that successful military takeovers historically depended more on securing the cooperation of senior officers than killing them.

Hayatu was also said to have opposed killing anyone. According to Ibrahim, the response from the alleged plot leader was that service chiefs and other designated individuals would instead be arrested.

However, another accused officer, Major A.D. Dauda, reportedly gave a different account.

Dauda allegedly told investigators that Ma’aji had said the former Chief of Defence Staff would have to be arrested or killed to prevent him from frustrating the operation.

Dauda reportedly said the conversation made him distance himself from the alleged conspiracy.

According to the investigative documents, some of the alleged operational assignments included:

Presidential Villa: Usman

Radio House: Abdulkarim Ibrahim

Air House: S.B. Adamu

Chief of Army Staff residence: Muhammad Jiddah

Chief of Defence Staff residence: Daniel Yusuf

102 Battalion, Zuma: Shamsuddeen Bappah

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Fresh details have emerged on how military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration allegedly planned their operation, including the use of coded language, proposed execution dates, deployment of personnel and logistics arrangements.

The documents also reportedly shed light on what investigators described as the suspects’ proposed transition arrangement if the alleged operation succeeded.

The revelations were contained in confidential investigative documents said to run into more than 7,400 pages and comprising statements obtained from suspects, bank records, secret notes, records of alleged conversations and other exhibits gathered during the investigation.

According to Premium Times, which reviewed the documents, the alleged plan revolved around taking control of strategic military installations, securing broadcast facilities, mobilising troops and dealing with senior military commanders considered capable of frustrating the operation.

The claims remain allegations contained in investigative materials, and the accused officers are entitled to defend themselves against the accusations.

Officers Allegedly Coordinated Plot

Previous reports had identified Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji as a principal figure in the alleged conspiracy alongside retired Colonel M.M. Adamu, Lieutenant-Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah and Major Abdulkarim Ibrahim.

Military authorities reportedly said Adamu remained at large. Investigators were said to have obtained separate statements from Ma’aji, Bappah and Ibrahim concerning the alleged operational plans.

The documents further indicated that coded expressions were allegedly adopted to conceal discussions about the plan.

According to the investigative records, the suspects referred to themselves as “farmers,” while the wider alleged movement was described as “farming.”

Other agriculture-related terms were reportedly assigned specific meanings during their communications.

“Fertilisers” allegedly referred to logistics such as money, vehicles, weapons and supplies, while “harvest” represented the proposed execution day.

The term “digital farming” was allegedly used for the planned operation, while clerics approached to offer prayers for its success were reportedly described as “technical partners.”

Investigators also said the expressions “D-Day” and “H-hour” were used to describe the proposed day and time of the operation, respectively.

The documents further revealed disagreements and uncertainty over when the alleged operation would take place.

Ibrahim reportedly told investigators that the conspirators considered carrying out the operation in the early hours of the morning, although a final date was not agreed upon.

Three dates, September 27, October 1 and October 4, 2025, reportedly featured during discussions among some of the suspects.

October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day, was among the dates allegedly considered.

Another suspect, Major Ilyasu Jamilu, reportedly told investigators that September 27, October 1 and another later date were discussed. He, however, maintained that no final date was chosen because preparations for the alleged operation were incomplete.

Ibrahim similarly told investigators that the timing ultimately depended on whether the necessary personnel and equipment were available.

“Col Ma’aji mentioned that the availability of troops and equipment would determine which of the dates would be D-Day,” he stated.

Logistics, Troops Reportedly Central To Plan

The investigative documents suggested that the availability of troops, equipment and other logistical requirements was a major consideration in determining when the alleged plot would be activated.

The materials also reportedly contained details of how responsibilities were assigned to individual participants and how strategic locations were identified as part of the wider plan.

Investigators alleged that preparations extended beyond the initial operation, with discussions also touching on what would happen if the alleged attempt to seize power succeeded.

The latest revelations add to details emerging from the investigation into the alleged plot and the roles authorities claim were played by individual suspects.

Investigative documents identified several expressions allegedly used by the suspects to disguise their communications:

Farming — the alleged coup movement

Fertilisers — logistics, including money, vehicles, weapons and supplies

Harvest — proposed execution day or “D-Day”

Digital farming — the planned operation

Technical partners — clerics allegedly approached to pray for the operation’s success

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The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied reports that the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, issued a “shoot-on-sight” order to police officers during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, Benue State.

The Force described the reports as inaccurate and said the IGP was only explaining the existing rules guiding the use of firearms by police personnel.

It was reports that the clarification was contained in a statement issued by the Police to correct what it described as a misrepresentation of the IGP’s remarks at the meeting.

According to the Force, Disu did not authorise police officers to shoot suspects on sight.

Rather, the police chief reiterated the provisions of Force Order 237, which sets out the legal and operational conditions under which police officers may use firearms.

The Force said the IGP informed stakeholders that police officers had been properly briefed on the provisions of the order and understood when firearms could be used in line with established Rules of Engagement.

It explained that the IGP’s comments were aimed at reminding officers to remain professional and comply with existing operational guidelines.

The Force stressed that the remarks were not an instruction for officers to use force indiscriminately.

The Police also said the IGP made it clear that the illegal possession of firearms and acts of violence would not be tolerated.

It added that unlawful killings and other criminal activities would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The Force said the IGP’s position was focused on maintaining security while ensuring that police officers operated within the law and established rules of engagement.

The Force urged members of the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that Disu ordered police officers to shoot suspects on sight.

It described such reports as inaccurate and said they were taken out of the context of the IGP’s full remarks.

The Police further encouraged members of the public to watch the complete video of the Inspector-General’s comments to properly understand what he said.

According to the Force, viewing the full footage would help prevent the spread of misinformation and ensure that the public was not misled by reports based on isolated portions of the IGP’s remarks.

The Police reiterated its commitment to professionalism and lawful operations, saying officers must continue to carry out their duties in line with the law and approved Rules of Engagement.

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