Alleged Coup: ‘The Bagger Is Scared’ – Naval Officer Assaults Tinubu After Cancelling October 1 Parade

A Nigerian Navy Lieutenant Commander going through trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration has admitted sending a WhatsApp message describing the President as “scared” following the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade.

In keeping with Premium Times, the 38-year-old officer from Kogi State, Bayawo Abdullahi, made the admission in a press release obtained by investigators probing the alleged coup try.

Abdullahi acknowledged sending the message to the alleged chief of the plot, Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, shortly after the Federal Government introduced the cancellation of the annual Independence Day parade.

Premium Times had reported that safety businesses uncovered the alleged plot in September 2025, main initially to the arrest of 16 navy officers.

About 40 folks, together with senior officers from completely different branches of the Armed Forces, a police officer and civilians, have been subsequently arrested over their alleged connections to the plot.

Whereas serving navy personnel implicated within the case are going through proceedings earlier than a Basic Court-Martial, six civilians and former navy officers are being prosecuted earlier than a civil courtroom.

Following the disruption of the alleged plot, authorities cancelled the October 1 Independence Day parade and later made modifications to the navy hierarchy.

Though stories linked the parade cancellation to the alleged coup try, the Defence Headquarters mentioned on the time that the occasion was known as off to allow Tinubu to “attend a strategic bilateral assembly outdoors the nation.”

The cancellation, nonetheless, reportedly occurred on the identical day Ma’aji was arrested.

Recalling his communication with the colonel, Abdullahi admitted sending a message after studying that the parade had been cancelled.

“There was a time I despatched a message to Col. Ma’aji after the 1 October parade was cancelled,” Abdullahi said.

He recalled writing, “The person has cancelled the parade; the bagger is scared.”

It couldn’t be instantly established whether or not Abdullahi was conscious of Ma’aji’s arrest when he despatched the WhatsApp message.

The naval officer instructed investigators that his comment was based mostly on his notion of Tinubu’s earlier attendance at Independence Day parades fairly than data of an impending operation.

“I simply mentioned this phrase due to the historical past of the president not attending the parade,” he said.

Officer Admits Misconduct

Abdullahi nonetheless acknowledged that his motion constituted misconduct and might be interpreted as disloyalty to the President.

“I settle for that my actions have threatened the nationwide safety of Nigeria and are additionally disloyal to the president,” his assertion learn.

Investigators additionally questioned him on whether or not the message was linked to alleged discussions among the many suspected plotters about October 1 being a potential date for executing their plan.

Abdullahi denied having such data, insisting that Ma’aji had not knowledgeable him of any resolution to hold out the operation on Independence Day.

He said, “I simply mentioned this out of ignorance, and I can state categorically that I used to be not conscious that the October 1 parade was to be the execution date.

“Col Maaji didn’t inform me. That in all probability would have been mentioned throughout their subsequent conferences, which I didn’t attend.”

Abdullahi Recounts Promotion Grievances

The lieutenant commander additionally disclosed that he had longstanding grievances regarding his profession development within the Nigerian Navy.

In keeping with him, his promotion challenges dated again to 2018, when he didn’t advance alongside a few of his coursemates.

He mentioned, “I used to be not promoted alongside my coursemates.

“When it was time for our promotion, a case arose in Apapa, and a few of us have been launched, whereas those that have been speculated to be promoted that 12 months missed out as a result of we obtained letters of displeasure.”

Abdullahi mentioned his profession challenges continued after he was posted to Maiduguri and subsequently withdrawn from the Senior Course at Jaji over an examination-related allegation.

He additional said, “After I used to be denied promotion, I used to be nonetheless posted to Maiduguri. Then once more, at Jaji, we have been withdrawn from the Senior Course as a result of we have been accused of examination.”

Regardless of his interactions with Ma’aji, Abdullahi reportedly instructed investigators that he doubted the colonel possessed the assets essential to efficiently perform a coup.

He mentioned the alleged plan appeared unrealistic due to insufficient logistics, including that he finally regarded Ma’aji as a “joker” and stopped responding commonly to his messages.

Abdullahi maintained that he was not deeply concerned within the alleged operational planning.

“I used to be not likely into his plans and what and the way he intends to try this,” he mentioned.

The naval officer, nonetheless, expressed remorse that he didn’t alert the suitable authorities after changing into conscious of the discussions, claiming he didn’t know whom to method with the knowledge.

Officer Seeks Improved Army Welfare

Abdullahi additionally proposed measures he believed might scale back grievances amongst members of the Armed Forces and stop comparable incidents.

He known as for more practical channels by way of which navy personnel might talk their issues to the Federal Government, significantly in circumstances involving disciplinary sanctions for actions they thought of unintentional.

The officer additionally raised issues about schooling prices, arguing that charges charged by some navy welfare colleges had risen to ranges comparable with non-public colleges.

He additional urged the federal government to deal with financial hardship and starvation whereas bettering the final welfare and dwelling situations of navy personnel.

Abdullahi additionally advocated reasonably priced homeownership schemes for officers as a part of broader measures to enhance morale inside the Armed Forces.