The arrest of Stanley Amandi, a Nollywood actor and former chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, unfolded quietly,  and with little initial clarity, reflecting the sensitivity surrounding Nigeria’s latest national security investigation.

Amandi was taken into custody earlier this week in Enugu, according to people familiar with the matter. The operation was carried out without public announcement, and for several hours even his family was uncertain which arm of the security services was responsible.

Relatives initially believed the arrest had been made by the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, a conclusion drawn from the manner of the operation and the absence of immediate information. It was only later, after formal correspondence was received, that the family was informed that  Amandi was being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the military’s external intelligence arm.

The delayed clarification underscored the opaque nature of the investigation, which involves both serving military officers and civilian suspects linked to an alleged plot to overthrow Bola Tinubu’s government. Security agencies have so far declined to issue public statements detailing the arrest or the allegations against those in custody.

Following confirmation of his detention, Amandi’s family reportedly contacted the DIA to request access for his wife, legal counsel and a medical doctor, citing concerns over his health, including hypertension. It remains unclear whether such access has been granted.

According to findings reported by Premium Times, investigators suspect the actor was not involved in operational or military planning but was linked to the media and messaging dimension of the alleged plot. Authorities believe he may have been positioned to assist in shaping narratives that could justify or popularise an unconstitutional takeover, placing him in the category of a civilian collaborator rather than a principal actor.

The arrest forms part of a wider sweep that followed earlier, discreet detentions within the armed forces. Intelligence officials say the investigation began after a serving officer alerted senior commanders to unusual meetings and conversations among colleagues. Subsequent intelligence assessments suggested a small network was exploring ways to destabilise the country’s democratic order.

Security agencies then moved to neutralise the alleged network through coordinated arrests across multiple locations, preventing what officials describe as an escalation of the plan. What initially appeared to be routine internal military discipline cases were reclassified as a matter of national security.

 Amandi’s detention has drawn particular attention because of his public profile and the rarity of an entertainment figure being caught up in allegations of this magnitude. As the investigation proceeds, authorities face mounting pressure to clarify the legal basis of the arrests and the evidence underpinning the claims, even as they seek to protect what they describe as an ongoing and highly sensitive operation.