Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said military officers arrested over a foiled coup plot were fully aware of the gravity and consequences of their actions before proceeding.
Musa stated that the officers involved “must have made up their minds,” stressing that anyone who attempts to undermine Nigeria’s constitutional order does so knowing the serious repercussions. He spoke following the military’s confirmation that a plot to remove President Bola Tinubu was uncovered late last year.
A total of 16 officers, including a brigadier general and a colonel, were arrested in October 2025. At the time, the Defence Headquarters said the arrests were linked to acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, without publicly acknowledging a coup plot.
However, on January 26, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that investigations had indeed uncovered a plan to overthrow the Tinubu administration. The revelation followed months of intelligence gathering and internal military probes involving multiple security agencies.
According to defence authorities, the suspected plot was foiled before it could be executed, underscoring what officials described as the armed forces’ continued loyalty to democratic governance and civilian authority.
Musa assured Nigerians that the accused officers would be subjected to due process under military law, with access to legal representation. He also said the welfare of their families would be considered while judicial proceedings are ongoing.
The confirmation of the foiled coup comes amid heightened regional instability in West Africa, where recent military takeovers in several countries have raised concerns about democratic resilience across the region. Nigerian authorities maintain that the swift disruption of the plot demonstrates the strength of the country’s security and constitutional institutions.
Abuja Network News
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