News

Profile Of The Sixteen Officers Detained For Alleged Coup Plot Revealed

Published

1 month ago

October 31, 2025

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

As military investigators continue probing the foiled coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigerian Tracker News has obtained details of the identities of 16 of the top military officers allegedly involved in the failed attempt.

Sources with details of the ongoing investigations earlier divulged that 14 of the 16 detained officers with regards to the coup plot are from the Nigerian Army. The remaining two, they said, are from the Navy and the Air Force

According to sources, 12 of the 14 army officers belong to the Infantry Corps, the army’s frontline combat unit whose troops primarily engage in ground battles. One officer is from the Signals Corps, which manages military communications, while another serves in the Ordnance Corps, responsible for procuring, storing, and maintaining weapons, ammunition, vehicles , and other essential hardware.

The army officers include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant. The remaining two are a lieutenant commander from the Navy, the naval equivalent of a major, and a squadron leader from the Air Force, which holds the exact rank equivalence.

Profile Of The Detained Officers Over Alleged Coup Plot

1.Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq
Born on 3 January 1974, Mr Sadiq is a brigadier general with service number N/10321, trained as an NDA cadet between 14 August 1992 and 20 September 1997. He is suspected to be the leader of the coup plot.

As a member of Regular Course 44, Mr Sadiq, an indigene of Nasarawa State, rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel in 2015 and a brigadier four years later. He belongs to the infantry corps.

This is not the first time Mr Sadiq has made headlines for alleged gross misconduct. In October 2024, he was reportedly detained for “alleged diversion of rice palliatives, selling of military equipment, including generator sets and operational vehicles to scrap yards.” Among other postings, the officer served as Commander of the 3rd Brigade in Kano and Garrison Commander of the 81 Division of the Army in Lagos.

2. Colonel M.A. Ma’aji
Mr Ma’aji is a colonel with service number N/10668. Born on 1st March 1976, the Nupe native from Niger State started training on 18 August 1995 and finished on 16 September 2000. Investigators suspect he played the role of a key strategist for the coup plot.

A member of the infantry corps, Mr Ma’aji was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2013, becoming a full colonel four years later. The 49-year-old officer was the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army based in Okitipupa, Ondo State.

He took part in Operation Crocodile Smile II, a Nigerian Army military exercise conducted in 2017 to address security challenges in the Niger Delta and parts of the South-west. He also served at Depot, Nigerian Army and later as Commander, Operation Delta Safe.

He was a member of the 47 Regular Course of the NDA.

3. Lt. Colonel S. Bappah
Mr Bappah, a member of the Nigerian Army Signals Corps, with service number N/13036, is from Bauchi State in North-East Nigeria. He was born on 21 June 1984.

The 41-year-old officer started his cadet training on 27 September 2004 and completed it on 4 October 2008.

He is a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA

4. Lt Colonel A.A. Hayatu
Mr Hayatu, now a lieutenant colonel with service number N/13038, hails from Kaduna State.

Born on 13 August 1983, he underwent his cadet training between 27 September 2004 and 04 October 2008.

5. P. Dangnap
Mr Dangnap is from Plateau State. He was born on 1 April 1986. In 2015, he was court-martialed alongside 29 others for offences related to the fight against Boko Haram.

The 39-year-old officer, with service number N/13025 began his cadet training on 27 September 2004 and completed it on 4 October 2008.

An infantry corps officer, Mr Dangnap is also a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA.

6. Lt. Colonel M. Almakura
A member of the 56 Regular Course, Mr Al Makura, a lieutenant colonel from Nasarawa State, was born on 18 March 1983.

The infantry corps officer with service number N/12983 trained as a cadet at the NDA from 27 September 2004 to 4 October 2008.

7. Major A. J Ibrahim
Mr Ibrahim, a major with service number N/13065, hails from Gombe State.

Born on 12 June 1987, the Infantry Corps officer trained between 27 September 2004 and 4 October 2008.

He was a member of the 56 Regular Course, and he became a captain in 2013

8. Major M.M. Jiddah
An indigene of Katsina State, Major Jiddah, was born on 9 July 1985.

He trained between 27 September 2004 and 4 October 2008.

Mr Jiddah is an infaArmy officer and a member of the 56 Regular Course. His service number is N/13003.

9. Major M.A. Usman
Mr Usman is a Nigerian Army major with service number N/15404.

He was born on 1 April 1989. He hails from the Federal Capital Territory, in North-central Nigeria.

A member of the 60th Regular Course, the infantry officer trained as a cadet at the NDA between 16 August 2008 and 14 September 2012.

10. Major D. Yusuf
Mr Yusuf, a major with service number N/14753, is a member of the Ordnance Corps.

He was born on 26 May 1988. As a member of the 59th Regular Course, Mr Yusuf trained at NDA between 7 July 2007 and 8 September 2012.

11. Major I. Dauda
Mr Dauda joined the army through the Direct Short Service Commissions.

Born on 26 November 1983, the infantry officer with service number N/13625, trained between 5 June 2009 and 27 March 2010.

Mr Dauda, who hails from Jigawa, is a member of Short Service Commission Course 38. The officer hails from Gombe State.

12. Captain Ibrahim Bello
Mr Bello is a captain with service number N/16266. He was born on 28 July 1987. He is a member of the Direct Short Service Commission Course 43.

13. Captain A.A Yusuf
He is an army captain with service number N/16724.

14. Lieutenant S.S Felix
A lieutenant with service number N/18105

15. Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi
He is a Nigerian Navy personnel with service number NN/3289.

16. Squandron Leader S. B Adamu
An Air Force squadron leader with service number NAF/3481.

The listed officers are currently undergoing thorough investigation.

News

Political War Erupts as Kwankwaso Rubbishes Marafa’s Call to Sack Matawalle

Published

6 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

The Director of Finance and Administration of the Hadejia–Jama’are River Basin Authority, Hon. Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, has dismissed as futile the call by former Senator Kabiru Marafa for the removal of Dr. Bello Matawalle as Minister of Defence, insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully satisfied with Matawalle’s performance.

Kwankwaso made the remark while addressing journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, describing Marafa’s demand as unfortunate, baseless and driven by personal bitterness, and stressing that it would not influence the President’s decision.

He said it was disturbing that a politician from the same state as the minister, Zamfara, would publicly attack Matawalle despite the minister’s commitment to national service.

“I was truly shocked when I heard the comments of former Senator Kabiru Marafa calling for the removal of the Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, even going as far as fabricating lies and false allegations against him. These statements are clearly driven by confusion and jealousy, and Mr. President will never accept them from enemies hiding behind criticism,” Kwankwaso said.

Hon. Kwankwaso further argued that Marafa lacks the moral standing to speak on security matters, citing a controversial traditional title allegedly linked to criminal elements within Marafa’s immediate circle.

“Besides jealousy and bitterness, Marafa has no justification to speak on security issues. A close relative of his senior brother was said to have been involved in helping to confer a traditional leadership title on the notorious bandit leader, Ado Aliero, in Yandoto. It was during Dr. Bello Matawalle’s tenure as governor that the title was subsequently suspended. So I ask: if he truly has a conscience, does he really have the right to speak on security?” he queried.

Kwankwaso also recalled past political comments credited to Marafa, in which the former senator reportedly vowed to defeat President Tinubu politically, questioning the sincerity of his present demand.

“Not long ago, Marafa openly said he would defeat Tinubu and cause him a one-million-vote loss. Now the same person who once wished the President’s failure is calling on the President to remove someone who is working for the success of his administration. That contradiction exposes the real motive behind these attacks,” he added.

He maintained that President Tinubu’s confidence in Dr. Matawalle remains firm, noting that no amount of pressure, manipulation or political jealousy would force the President to act against his judgment.

In his concluding remarks, Kwankwaso cautioned Northerners against what he described as a growing culture of destructive rivalry and bitterness, where individuals seek the downfall of others simply because they have lost political relevance.

He warned that those currently calling for Matawalle’s removal might be the same people who would later accuse the President of marginalising the North should he appoint someone else from outside the region.

News

New Defense Minister GC Musa Takes Oath of Office

Published

12 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence.

Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, took the oath of office on Thursday at the State House, Abuja.

Nigerian Tracker News had reported that the Senate on Wednesday confirmed Musa as Minister of Defence following a rigorous five-hour screening.

During the session, the former CDS was grilled over recent security lapses, including the controversial withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, shortly before schoolgirls were abducted on November 17.

He told lawmakers he would “immediately set up a full-scale investigation” into the troop withdrawal once he assumes duty.

Musa also vowed to probe the killing of Brigade Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Uba in Borno State, along with other attacks on senior military officers.

Musa’s nomination followed the resignation of former Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru, reportedly on health grounds.

News

KANSIEC Appoints Adhoc Staff for Ward Bye-Elections

Published

14 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Nigerian Tracker

Prof Sani Lawal Malumfashi KANSIEC Chairman

The Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawal Malumfashi, has issued appointment letters to adhoc staff for the upcoming ward bye-elections in three local government areas of the state.

During the presentation of the appointment letters, Professor Malumfashi urged the adhoc staff to justify the trust and confidence the commission has reposed in them.

He expressed his confidence in their ability to discharge their duties based on their level of education, experience, and track record of honesty and dedication.

The adhoc positions include 3 Returning Officers, 3 Electoral Officers, and 3 Assistant Electoral Officers for Dala (Kofar Mazugal), Dogowa (Maraku), and Ghari (Matan Fata) wards.

In a statement signed by Bashir Habib Yahaya media aid to the executive chairman said the Chairman appreciated security agencies, politicians, and the general public for their support and cooperation. The bye-elections are scheduled to hold on December 13, 2025.