A trove of documents, including statements authored by a group of disgruntled senior military officers arrested for allegedly plotting a coup against the administration of President Bola Tinubu, indicates that they planned to recruit repentant Boko Haram fighters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to support the operation.
The documents, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, run into over 7,400 pages. They also include statements by civilians accused of participating in the plot, bank account statements, secret chat exchanges on encrypted messaging platforms, receipts of items purchased, and details of hotels used for clandestine meetings.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the plot was uncovered in September 2025, starting with the arrest of 16 serving military officers. Four months later, about 40 people, including a police officer and civilians allegedly involved in the plot, had been arrested.
Initially, the military authority said the officers were arrested for indiscipline and breach of service regulations. The Defence Headquarters later confirmed that they were involved in the coup plot, adding that they would be prosecuted.
Currently, the serving military officers are being tried in a General Court-Martial, while the civilians, including the ex-military officers, are being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
