I Was Pressured — Soldier Makes Fresh Revelation In Coup Case

A Nigerian Army Lance Corporal, Sambo Danladi, has told a court how he was allegedly handcuffed, blindfolded and transported from Enugu to Abuja by soldiers before being detained and questioned over an alleged coup case.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Danladi gave evidence on September 10, 2025, detailing his alleged treatment after soldiers approached him at a car park and told him that the General Officer Commanding wanted to see him. He said he was assured that the matter was official and that his commander was aware of the development.

Danladi told the court that he followed the soldiers into a vehicle, where he was allegedly handcuffed and blindfolded before being taken to Abuja. He said he was subsequently taken to the Defence Intelligence Agency, where he was detained.

The soldier testified that the following day, a man he later identified as Captain Ukpong entered the room, took his photograph and obtained his personal details, including his Army number and residential address.

He said another officer, identified as Lieutenant Chima, later questioned him about his identity and the reason for his detention. According to Danladi, Chima asked him to cooperate with the investigation and questioned him about his relationship with Warrant Officer Nasiru and another individual identified as Maaji.

Danladi said he told the officer that he knew Nasiru but did not know Maaji. He added that he informed the officers that Nasiru was on pass when they asked about his whereabouts.

The witness further alleged that Chima and Ukpong returned the following day and questioned him about his relationship with Nasiru. According to his testimony, the officers asked whether he knew that Nasiru was allegedly involved in a coup plot, to which he responded that he was unaware of such an allegation.

Danladi also alleged that he was asked whether Nasiru had given him any assignment connected to the alleged plot, but maintained that he knew nothing about it.

He told the court that Captain Ukpong subsequently informed him that investigators believed he had been brought in because of his closeness to Nasiru and wanted him to testify against the warrant officer.

According to the soldier, he rejected the request, insisting that he could not testify about matters he did not know.

Danladi further alleged that he pleaded to contact his wife because she would be concerned about his whereabouts. He said he was later told that he could be released if he agreed to implicate Nasiru.

The lance corporal also told the court that he requested permission to contact his wife or brother so that they could arrange legal representation, but alleged that the request was denied.

He further claimed that a typed statement was later brought to him and that he was instructed to read and copy it. Danladi said he disputed some of the contents because, according to him, they did not reflect what had happened.

The soldier alleged that he was assured that he would be exonerated if he cooperated and testified against Nasiru. He said he eventually began copying the statement and was later taken to another soldier before returning to complete the document.

Danladi told the court that he was subsequently moved to another detention facility, which he later identified as the IMC, where he said he remained in custody.

He also alleged that he was not permitted to contact his wife or a lawyer during his detention and complained about his feeding conditions during the first few days.

During cross-examination, Danladi was questioned about whether he had been informed of his right to legal representation and why he did not nominate a lawyer. He maintained that nobody had informed him of such a right.

He was also questioned about whether Lieutenant Chima had asked him to implicate anyone. Danladi maintained that his testimony was based on what he said he personally experienced during his detention.

The witness further told the court that he did not have a copy of the draft statement he had allegedly been instructed to copy. He was subsequently shown a document and asked to identify signatures appearing on it.

Danladi is among the military personnel named in connection with the alleged coup case. Current reporting lists him as one of 36 serving officers scheduled to face a court-martial over the alleged plot, while the specific charges were to be served individually.

The allegations contained in Danladi’s testimony remain subject to the proceedings and should not be treated as established facts unless determined by the court.