Coup: Officers involved must face consequences of plot ~ Christopher Musa
General Christopher Musa
On January 26, the DHQ confirmed that the arrests were linked to a foiled plot to overthrow President Tinubu.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, says military officers arrested over the foiled coup plot against President Bola Tinubu were fully aware of the consequences of their actions and are prepared to face the law.
Musa said the 16 officers implicated in the plot—including a brigadier general and a colonel—“must have made up their minds” before engaging in what he described as a serious breach of military discipline and national security.
The officers were arrested in October 2025, with the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) initially announcing on October 4 that they were under investigation for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.”
According to the military, the plot was uncovered in late September 2025 through joint intelligence operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The alleged plan included the assassination of President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other senior government officials, as well as the arrest of top military commanders.
Speaking during an interview on TRT World, a Turkish international broadcaster, Musa assured that the accused officers would be given a fair and transparent trial, with full access to legal counsel of their choice.
“They must have made up their minds when they decided to do this and must have considered the consequences for themselves and their families,” Musa said.
“Even so, the government is ensuring that their families are treated fairly. Their wives and children will not be abandoned.”
He added that measures have been put in place to support the families of the accused while the judicial process continues.
“The perpetrators already know the repercussions of their actions, and I am sure they are ready to face the consequences,” the defence minister said.
