Manny Ita
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has confirmed that he was a specific target for arrest or assassination during a foiled coup attempt uncovered by Nigerian security agencies in late 2025. Speaking on the Channels TV programme Sunday Politics, the retired Army General disclosed that intelligence gathered during subsequent investigations revealed his name was listed among several high-ranking government officials marked by the conspirators. Regarding the specific instructions given to the plotters, Mr. Musa stated, “I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot.” This confirmation follows exclusive reports from October 2025 detailing how the group intended to eliminate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while marking other top military brass for detention.
Mr. Musa characterized the plot as a grave threat to the nation’s constitutional order, describing the coordinated plan to use lethal force against resisting officials as a demonstration of dangerous recklessness. He further noted that the conspirators fundamentally underestimated the resilience of the Nigerian public, asserting that the move would have lacked any popular support. “Even without the armed forces, Nigerians will have stood against him,” he said, referencing the country’s history of resisting military interventions. Dismissing the plotters as “unserious individuals,” the Minister emphasized that anyone engaging in such activities is fully aware of the severe consequences and risks involved.
The background of the incident involves the arrest of 16 officers in September 2025, a development the military initially attributed to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” However, it was later revealed that the grievances were linked to career frustrations. Mr. Musa specifically identified the leader of the plot, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, noting that he was disgruntled “because he was not promoted,” further explaining that the military maintains strict standards and the officer “didn’t meet the marks to be promoted.” In the aftermath of the attempt, a reshuffle occurred where Mr. Musa was briefly replaced as Chief of Defence Staff by Olufemi Oluyede before being recalled and appointed as Minister of Defence following the resignation of Muhammed Badaru.
The military officially acknowledged the reality of the coup plot on January 26, confirming that 40 suspects have now been arrested and are set to be arraigned in court. Throughout his appearance, the Defence Minister maintained that national stability remains a collective responsibility, calling on citizens to stay vigilant. The statement by the military authorities reaffirms that those indicted will face legal proceedings to address what they described as a threat to national security.
