Two military officers have reportedly fled Nigeria after being linked to an alleged plot to overthrow the government and dismantle democratic institutions, TheCable has learnt.

The escape comes as the military continues to intensify its crackdown on alleged conspirators, following the initial detention of 16 officers in the first week of October.

According to TheCable, Sources familiar with the investigation said that authorities had identified 18 officers for arrest in connection with the plan, but two escaped before they could be apprehended.

One of the officers on the run has been identified as Major JM Ganaks, with service number N/14363, from the federal capital territory (FCT). Military insiders said he belongs to Regular Course 58 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and was stationed in Jaji, Kaduna state.

Also declared wanted is Captain G. Binuga, with service number N/167722, who hails from Taraba state. Binuga is listed under Regular Course 64 and was serving at DHQ SOF in Bida, Niger state.

According to security sources, statements obtained from some of the detained officers have been instrumental in making additional arrests. It is estimated that more than 30 officers are now in custody, with investigators pursuing further leads.

While some suspects are said to be refusing to cooperate, several others have reportedly provided “useful information” to authorities handling the probe. Contrary to speculation circulating across various platforms, the alleged coup was not scheduled for October 1; rather, arrests only began during the early days of the month.

The military has yet to officially acknowledge a coup attempt. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) recently insisted that the ongoing detention and interrogation of 16 officers is part of a “routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism within the ranks.”

The investigation, however, continues to unfold as security agencies track down remaining suspects believed to be connected to the foiled plot.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has accused the federal government of deliberately withholding local government allocations meant for the state due to political differences.

Speaking through his deputy, Kola Adeusi, at a two-day Southwest Summit on Democracy and Federalism in Ondo State, Adeleke said Osun has been subjected to “politically-motivated marginalisation” by the federal authorities since he assumed office in 2022.

He alleged that funds designated for local government administration in the state were seized without legal justification, describing the situation as a violation of constitutional provisions on financial autonomy and inter-governmental cooperation.

“There is an ongoing wilful breach of the constitution to deprive a sub-national entity of its due rights simply because it does not belong to the same party with the ruling party at the centre,” Adeleke said.

The governor claimed that several federal programmes and projects intended for Osun have been rerouted through political party structures rather than official state institutions, adding that the development has weakened governance delivery at the grassroots level.

Adeleke further alleged that some political actors in Abuja have frustrated efforts to rehabilitate federal roads and revive abandoned federal projects within the state. He also accused federal security agencies of shielding members of the ruling party in cases of alleged misconduct, while using security institutions to intimidate officials of the state government.

“In Osun today, federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the governor said his administration has recorded improvements across key sectors including health, education, and debt management. According to him, Osun now ranks highest in the Southwest in access to primary healthcare and has reduced its debt burden by more than 40 percent.

He called on leaders in the Southwest to prioritise regional development over partisan rivalry, advocating for a circular cargo railway, development of dry ports, and stronger support for the regional security outfit, Amotekun.

“The south-west must elevate power applications beyond partisan considerations,” he said. “We must never deploy federal power against ourselves, no matter our political differences.”

Security sources have revealed that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), under former Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, and its internal intelligence unit led by Chief of Defence Intelligence Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, successfully uncovered and stopped an attempted coup aimed at overthrowing the Federal Government and attacking top national leaders.

According to PRNigeria findings, the alleged plot, considered one of the most serious coup threats in recent years, involved plans to launch coordinated assassinations of key political and military leaders.

Security insiders disclosed that the targets included senior officials in the Presidency, principal officers of the National Assembly, top military commanders and the National Security Adviser.

A source told PRNigeria that the planned coup was intended to be extremely violent, noting that the planning had been underway for a long time and was designed to cripple Nigeria’s leadership structure completely.

The information emerges amid ongoing investigations into the arrest of 16 military personnel accused of violating service regulations. While the Federal Government and DHQ had dismissed earlier reports of a coup as false, new intelligence obtained by PRNigeria confirms the existence of a sophisticated plot.

Sources added that the coup plan was detected solely through DHQ’s internal counter-intelligence system without involvement from other security agencies. The suspects allegedly acquired vehicles and tactical equipment for covert movement and had secretly accessed sensitive government locations in preparation.

Investigators are also probing possible civilian collaborators, with forensic tracking of financial and communication records underway. Billions of naira have reportedly been traced to accounts linked to suspected political financiers backing the plot.

Contrary to public speculation, security officials confirmed that none of the detained officers were connected to the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Military insiders described the arrested individuals as disgruntled officers who had failed promotion exams or remained in the same postings for long periods, adding that their frustrations were exploited by political actors.

Security analysts noted that the suspected conspirators came from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, describing the alliance as unusual and driven solely by a shared motive to disrupt the democratic system.

One analyst said the coalition behind the plot disregarded Nigeria’s traditional ethnic and religious divides and was solely united by a plan to undermine democratic institutions.

The DHQ reaffirmed its commitment to upholding Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that the Armed Forces remain loyal to the Constitution and the President.

Security experts have praised the military’s swift and covert response to the threat, warning that although the attempt has been foiled, underlying grievances within the system should be addressed to avoid future threats.