The country’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has disclosed that he was among key government and military figures singled out by officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The revelation came during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
General Musa said intelligence gathered by security agencies showed that the alleged conspirators intended to arrest him and shoot him if he resisted, underscoring the gravity of the plot. “I was also a target … I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he told the programme.
The attempted coup came to light after the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) confirmed that 16 military officers arrested in October 2025 would be prosecuted for their alleged roles in planning to overthrow the government. The officers, who include ranks from Captain to Brigadier General, were first detained for alleged indiscipline and breaches of service regulations before authorities later linked them to a coup plot.
Director of Defence Information Major General Samaila Uba announced that those with cases to answer would be formally arraigned before military judicial panels in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.
The military’s confirmation marked a shift from earlier denials. In October 2025, the Defence Headquarters had initially dismissed claims of a coup attempt, saying arrests were unrelated to any plot to topple the government.
According to security sources, the alleged plan extended to other high-profile officials. The plotters reportedly intended to kill President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Senate President, and other senior government figures as part of the takeover strategy.
General Musa, who was relieved of his post as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) shortly after the plot was exposed, characterised the conspirators as “a bunch of very unserious individuals”, questioning their capacity to challenge Nigeria’s disciplined military and resilient citizenry. He added that ordinary Nigerians would have fought back against any attempted overthrow of democratic governance.
While the government has maintained that the suspects will receive fair trials, human rights advocates have raised concerns about due process and access to legal counsel. Earlier in January, human rights lawyer Femi Falana urged the military to either release detained officers or ensure they are promptly arraigned before a court-martial, noting reports that families and lawyers had been denied access to the suspects for months.
The foiled plot and subsequent arrests triggered significant reshuffles within Nigeria’s military leadership. In October 2025, President Tinubu also appointed new service chiefs in an effort to tighten security and reinforce loyalty within the armed forces, shortly after the initial detentions.
The alleged coup attempt has reignited national debate about military professionalism and oversight in Nigeria, a country with a history of coups prior to the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Authorities insist that strict action is being taken to uphold constitutional order and prevent any future threats to democratic governance.
Meanwhile, the soldier-turned-political office-holder has announced his plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly in recognition of what President Tinubu has done for him.
“I have not transited yet (to the APC) but definitely I will be. APC has given the platform to present myself right from CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) to this. Mr. President needs our support. I totally will give him all my support. Whatever I can do to ensure he succeeds in his tour of duty, including moving forward to his second term, I will give him my very best.”
● Videos courtesy of Channels Television
