Brig Gen. Musa Sadiq: The mastermind behind failed coup against President Tinubu

According to PM News report on 27 January, 2026, Brigadier General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, 49 years old, a senior officer of the Nigerian Army, has become the central figure in one of Nigeria’s most high‑profile military security investigations, the alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.

Sadiq, is currently under intense scrutiny following allegations that he played a key role in a clandestine plot aimed at destabilising the Tinubu administration.

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While investigations are ongoing, the development has sent shockwaves through the military and political establishment, given Sadiq’s long-standing service record and previous strategic postings.

Born on January 3, 1974, in Nasarawa State, Sadiq began his military career at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), where he was admitted as a cadet of the 44th Regular Course in August 1992.

He completed his training in September 1997 and was commissioned into the Infantry Corps, widely regarded as the backbone of the Nigerian Army’s ground forces.

Over nearly three decades of service, Sadiq built a reputation as a disciplined officer with extensive operational and administrative experience.

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Before the controversy that now surrounds him, he held several critical command positions across the country.

One of his most notable appointments was as Garrison Commander, 81 Division, Dodan Barracks, Lagos, where he was responsible for overseeing security operations and safeguarding key military installations in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

The role placed him at the heart of strategic security coordination in Lagos, a city considered vital to national stability.

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He also served as Commander, 3 Brigade, Kano, a major operational command in northern Nigeria.

Sadiq was in charge of troop deployments, logistics, and civil-military relations in a region often affected by security challenges.

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