The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has revealed that he was among senior military figures targeted in an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, disclosing that the plan included his arrest and possible killing if he resisted.
Musa disclosed on Sunday, February 1, 2026, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, shortly after the military confirmed that 16 officers arrested in October 2025 would be prosecuted over their alleged involvement in the plot.
According to the former Chief of Defence Staff, intelligence reports later showed that he was listed as one of the intended targets of the suspected plotters. He said the plan was to arrest him and shoot him if he refused to comply.
Reflecting on the incident, Musa downplayed the threat, describing the alleged conspirators as unserious and lacking a realistic understanding of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the country’s democratic resilience.
He noted that beyond the military, ordinary Nigerians would have resisted any attempt to seize power through unconstitutional means, recalling the country’s long history of resistance to military rule.
The military had earlier announced the arrest of 16 officers over what it initially described as acts of indiscipline and violations of service regulations. However, authorities later disclosed that further investigations uncovered links between some of the officers and an alleged attempt to overthrow the government—conduct deemed contrary to the ethics and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
In a statement last week, the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, said officers found to have a case to answer would be arraigned before a military judicial panel in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.
Uba added that the process was intended to ensure accountability while upholding fairness and due process within the military justice system.
