Fresh revelations have surfaced in the ongoing probe into the alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s government, indicating that an officer of the Nigerian Air Force recently posted to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was allegedly assigned to assassinate the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
According to credible military sources, the officer identified as Squadron Leader S.B. Adamu, with service number NAF/3481, hails from Jigawa State. He was deployed to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), a strategic programme coordinated by ONSA, just four weeks before the suspected coup attempt was uncovered.
Contrary to claims that several suspects were linked to ONSA, investigators have clarified that Adamu was the only officer directly connected to the office through his recent posting to the NCTC.
In addition, the deployment of Squadron Leader Adamu raised concerns within the security architecture. It was learnt that in August 2025, when Major General Adamu Garba Laka, the National Coordinator of the NCTC, requested for a specific officer to be deployed to the centre; his request was inexplicably turned down.
Instead, Squadron Leader Adamu was sent to the office, a development that continues to raise eyebrows in the Ongoing Probe. A senior official close to the matter revealed that investigators are currently looking into the circumstances around the deployment in order to figure out the extent of infiltration.
Sources reveal that the squadron leader was allegedly tasked with eliminating Nuhu Ribadu, while other officers involved in the alleged plot were assigned to target various senior officials within the Tinubu administration.
Sources said the officer is currently in custody and is cooperating with investigators, providing crucial details about the nature and scope of the plot.
Defence Headquarters Reacts
The Defence Headquarters has yet to issue an official statement confirming the alleged assassination plot. However, in a press release following the initial report of the arrests, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, stated that the current investigation involving 16 military officers was a “routine internal process” meant to ensure discipline and uphold professionalism within the ranks.
