By Muhammad Mamman
Shocking details have emerged from an ongoing investigation into an alleged coup plot in Nigeria, revealing that a serving Air Force officer was reportedly ordered to assassinate the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, before the plan was foiled by security operatives.
According to high-level security sources, the directive was part of a broader plot to destabilise the Nigerian government and seize power through coordinated military and political actions. Intelligence reports suggest that the plotters had identified key figures within the nation’s security architecture — including Ribadu — as primary targets in an attempt to neutralise resistance to their plans.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) are said to have jointly intervened after credible intelligence indicated suspicious movements and communications among a small group of officers. The alleged plot was disrupted before it could be executed, leading to the arrest and detention of several suspects now under interrogation.
A senior military source confirmed that the detained Air Force officer allegedly confessed to receiving orders from a “higher authority” to eliminate Ribadu, a move that would have paved the way for a wider insurrection. The source described the plan as “a grave threat to national security” and credited the swift action of intelligence units for averting what could have been a “catastrophic breach of Nigeria’s democratic stability.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) have reportedly joined the investigation to trace possible financial links and foreign funding behind the conspiracy. Investigators are said to be analysing bank transfers, offshore accounts, and cryptocurrency transactions potentially linked to the network.
While the government has yet to make an official statement, insiders at the Presidency described the plot as “the most serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic order in years.”
Security analysts say the development underscores the growing challenge of safeguarding the country’s institutions from both internal and external threats. The Federal Government has vowed that all individuals found complicit — regardless of rank or influence — will face the full weight of the law.
