Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has disclosed that he was among senior government and military officials marked for arrest and possible execution in an alleged coup plot uncovered by the Armed Forces late last year.
Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, the minister said the plotters planned to arrest him and shoot him if he resisted. His revelation follows the military’s confirmation that some of the officers arrested in October 2025 would face prosecution for allegedly attempting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I was also a target,” General Musa, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), said during the programme. “I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot.”
In October 2025, the military announced the arrest of 16 officers, initially describing the action as a response to acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. However, authorities said last week that further investigations uncovered evidence linking some of the officers to a broader plot aimed at destabilising the government.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said investigations revealed that certain suspects were involved in actions “inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.” He added that those found to have cases to answer would be arraigned before a military judicial panel in line with the Armed Forces Act and other relevant service regulations.
According to reports, the alleged plot extended beyond the military hierarchy, with several top government officials and other prominent Nigerians listed as potential targets. The incident has also been linked in some quarters to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade.
Separately, the residence of a former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, was reportedly raided over alleged links to the plot, although no formal charges have been publicly announced.
General Musa dismissed the plotters as lacking both seriousness and capacity to challenge the Nigerian military. “I think these were a bunch of unserious individuals,” he said. “When you look at the calibre of persons involved, I don’t know what made them think they could take on the Armed Forces.”
He further argued that any attempt to undermine democracy would have been resisted not only by the military but also by the Nigerian people. “Even Nigerians would have fought them,” he said, noting the country’s long history of resistance to military rule. He added that President Tinubu himself was part of the struggle against military dictatorship.
Nigeria experienced a series of military coups between 1966 and 1993 before returning to civilian rule in 1999. Since then, the country has maintained democratic governance despite persistent security and political challenges.
The alleged coup attempt comes amid a wave of military takeovers and failed plots across parts of West Africa, including a reported attempt in neighbouring Benin Republic late last year.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported the arrest of a police officer alongside military personnel accused of plotting to overthrow the President. The officer, identified as Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim from Taraba State, was arrested in Abuja by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and remains in custody.
Reports indicate that about 35 military officers are being detained, including a Brigadier General, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, senior Air Force and Navy officers, as well as non-commissioned officers. The detainees are drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force and originate from various states across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The DIA, established in 1986, is Nigeria’s primary military intelligence agency, responsible for providing intelligence to the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence to counter security threats and safeguard national integrity.
Sources at Defence Headquarters said the arrests followed weeks of covert surveillance and coordinated operations by military intelligence operatives. While initial official statements denied any link between the arrests and a coup plot, the Defence Headquarters last week formally acknowledged that allegations of attempting to overthrow the government were among the findings against some of the detained officers.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over the welfare of those in custody. SaharaReporters reported on January 23, 2026, that at least five detained officers had fallen ill, with two reportedly collapsing due to deteriorating conditions. Families have alleged inhumane treatment, prolonged incommunicado detention, and denial of access to lawyers and relatives, claims the authorities have yet to publicly address.
