Nigeria Coup Buzz:Officers on the Run

Nigeria’s military is in full swing, chasing shadows of betrayal. Two officers have vanished possibly out of the country linked to whispers of a plot to topple the democratic setup.

With over 30 now in custody, the hunt thickens, but brass insists it’s all about keeping ranks tidy, not thwarting a takeover.

The drama kicked off in early October with 16 detentions. Now, tips from those grilled have snowballed arrests. Officials eye 18 total targets, but these two slipped the net just as cuffs tightened.

The Elusive Pair: Who Are They?

• Major J.M. Ganaks (N/14363): From the Federal Capital Territory, part of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 58th Regular Course. Last posted in Jaji, Kaduna State ground zero for army training.
• Captain G. Binuga (N/167722): Hails from Taraba State, 64th Regular Course alum. Tied to the Defence Headquarters Special Operations Forces in Bida, Niger State.

Sources say they’ve bolted abroad, dodging the dragnet.

Inside the Cells: Who’s Talking, Who’s Not?

Of the initial 16:

• 14 Army vets, mostly Infantry Corps foot soldiers (12 strong), plus one Signals whiz and an Ordnance gear guru.
• 1 Navy lieutenant commander and 1 Air Force squadron leader.

Breakdown by stripes: A brigadier general leads the pack, followed by a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lone lieutenant. Some spill secrets fueling fresh grabs; others clam up tight.

Official Line: “Routine Check-Up” or Cover Story?

Defence Headquarters plays it cool: This is “internal housekeeping” for discipline slips no coup in sight. They blame gripes like stalled promotions on failed exams.

But rumors swirled for weeks, spiking fears. President Bola Tinubu shuffled service chiefs soon after coincidence or cleanup? The government and military shut down takeover talk flat: “Democracy’s locked in.”

Arrests rolled in the first week of October, not Independence Day as buzzed.

Bigger Picture: Echoes of Uneasy Times

Nigeria’s battled insurgents, bandits, and separatists, stretching troops thin. Unpaid wages and rough conditions brew resentment. A southern ex-governor’s even under the microscope for ties.

Analysts smell more than meets the eye: Why downplay as “indiscipline” if it’s tame? Public eyes demand names and facts.

Is this a real threat or smoke from stressed barracks? Will the fugitives surface?