Nigeria’s Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that a planned coup against President Bola Tinubu was hatched by disgruntled officers even before the president took office. The plot allegedly included plans to use lethal force against opponents, including top government officials.
Speaking on a televised interview, Musa said intelligence investigations revealed that the conspiracy was already underway in September, months before Tinubu’s inauguration.
“I was also a target… I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot”, Musa told the programme, highlighting the seriousness of the threat.
Describing the plotters as “unserious individuals,” the minister questioned how they believed they could challenge the nation’s armed forces. “If you look at the calibre of persons… I don’t know what got into their heads to think they can take on the Armed Forces like that”, he added.
Intelligence agencies reportedly uncovered secret meetings and communications among both serving and retired officers. The plan allegedly involved assassinations of government leaders and the detention of senior military officials.
Musa warned that the perpetrators are aware of the consequences of their actions and are “ready to face the wrath” of the law. At least 16 officers have been arrested, and the Defence Headquarters says they will be arraigned before a military judicial panel under the Armed Forces Act.
The government has also assured that families of the accused will be looked after. Musa urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, noting that the foiled plot exposed “dangerous levels of recklessness” and emphasized that national stability depends on collective responsibility.
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