Tension as Ex-Militant Leaders, Former Amnesty Boss Monitored Over Alleged Coup Against President Tinubu
The ongoing investigation into alleged subversive activities aimed at destabilising the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly widened, with security operatives extending their focus to a network of influential figures in the Niger Delta region.
According to top intelligence sources who spoke with Daily Sun, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) have jointly identified several “Persons of Specific Concern” (PSC), including four former militant leaders who were once central to the Niger Delta struggle that culminated in the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Amnesty Programme.
Three of the four ex-warlords were said to belong to the group once referred to as the “Big Five” during the amnesty negotiations. Two hail from Rivers State, one from Bayelsa, and another from Ondo State.
It was further learnt that one of the military officers earlier arrested in connection with the alleged plot, a former battalion commander in Ondo State, had longstanding ties with one of the Niger Delta figures under watch.
Security sources disclosed that the list of those being profiled also includes a retired military officer from Rivers State who once headed the Presidential Amnesty Office.
Although authorities have not formally accused any of the individuals of wrongdoing, their recent activities and meetings with one of the detained officers reportedly triggered “heightened intelligence attention.”
A senior security official told Daily Sun, “We cannot confirm yet that they are or were part of the subversive attempts. But when circumstantial events and traits are pitched together in situations like this, the needful has to be done as we are doing now.
“Mind you, no one is being accused, far from it. What is being done right now is to scrutinise their movements and meetings with those already giving useful information and cooperating with those in charge of the ongoing probe.”
Suspicious Meetings Under Surveillance
Investigators are said to have traced three meetings allegedly held between some of the individuals and one of the arrested officers in Kaduna, Minna (Niger State), and Port Harcourt, prompting further scrutiny.
“These persons who are currently coded as Persons of Specific Concern are being profiled, and we are monitoring events around them. For instance, what could have prompted three meetings with one of the arrested officers?” another intelligence source queried.
Findings by Daily Sun indicate that the renewed scrutiny may also be linked to grievances over the distribution of federal patronage and contracts in the Niger Delta region.
According to sources, the affected individuals were reportedly displeased that a multi-billion-naira federal intervention project was awarded to one particular figure instead of being shared among leading former militant leaders.
“They have tried and made frantic efforts to ensure that the said patronage is split among them, but the NSA’s office sees no wisdom in doing that as long as there are results,” a senior source revealed.