Retired General And Son Nabbed Over Alleged Coup Against Tinubu
Retired General And Son Nabbed Over Alleged Coup Against Tinubu
Retired Army General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana has been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. The arrest follows the detention of his son, Lieutenant Colonel Sadiq Ibrahim-Gana, by military intelligence operatives about a week earlier.
Gana, a Niger State indigene and the Danmagayaki of Nupe, is among 35 military personnel currently held over the alleged coup attempt. The son, Lt. Col. Ibrahim-Gana, formerly the Commanding Officer of the 115 Battalion in Askira, Borno State, was also detained despite being actively deployed against insurgents in the North-East.
Military sources revealed that the retired general reportedly maintained close ties with Colonel Alhassan Ma’aji, identified by investigators as the alleged mastermind of the foiled plot. While no direct involvement in the coup has been traced to Gana, authorities believe he may have been aware of the plan.
In addition to military officers, several civilians, including mechanics allegedly involved in repairing vehicles used by the plotters, have been arrested. An official claimed that some detainees, including a Julius Berger employee, are believed to have no knowledge of the plot.
Among those in detention are one Brigadier General, two Colonels, five Lieutenant Colonels, one Wing Commander, eight Majors, one Navy Lieutenant Commander, two Squadron Leaders, five Captains, one Lieutenant, and 10 non-commissioned officers, including a warrant officer, sergeants, a corporal, and lance corporals. While most detainees are from northern states, one Army Captain is from Osun State, and an Air Force Squadron Leader is from Bayelsa State.
The detentions have raised concerns among families, with reports that several officers fell ill in custody, and some were transferred to a poorly ventilated underground military facility in Abuja. Complaints have also emerged regarding prolonged incommunicado detention and denial of legal access.
Initially, the Defence Headquarters denied the existence of a coup plot in October 2025, but it has since acknowledged that investigations revealed attempts to overthrow the government. The DHQ stated that officers with cases to answer will face military judicial panels.
