By John Umeh
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has disclosed that he was among those listed as targets in an alleged coup plot uncovered by the military late last year, revealing that the plan included his possible assassination.
Speaking during an appearance on Sunday Politics, the former Chief of Defence Staff said intelligence reports showed that he was to be forcefully detained by the plotters and, if he resisted, killed.
According to Musa, the alleged conspiracy went beyond mere indiscipline within the armed forces and crossed into a dangerous attempt to destabilise the country’s democratic order.
The revelation follows the military’s recent confirmation that some of the 16 officers arrested in October will now face trial after investigations linked them to plans to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
When the arrests were first announced, the military cited breaches of service rules. However, further probes later uncovered what authorities described as a coordinated effort by certain officers to undermine constitutional authority.
In a statement issued earlier, the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said evidence gathered during investigations pointed to activities “incompatible with the ethics, values and professional conduct of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” adding that those implicated would be prosecuted under the Armed Forces Act before a military judicial panel.
Security sources say the alleged plot extended beyond Musa alone, with reports indicating that other senior officials and high-profile individuals were also identified as potential targets. The investigation has been linked to the abrupt cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade, while the residence of a former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, was reportedly searched in connection with the probe.
Reacting to the alleged coup plan, Musa dismissed the suspects as reckless and ill-prepared, questioning their belief that they could successfully challenge the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He further stressed that any attempt to return the country to military rule would have met stiff resistance, not just from security agencies but from ordinary Nigerians who endured decades of military governance and fought hard for democratic rule.
Nigeria witnessed multiple coups between 1966 and 1993, before the restoration of civilian government in 1999. The latest allegations come against the backdrop of a troubling rise in military takeovers and failed coup attempts across West Africa, raising fresh concerns about regional stability.
Authorities insist investigations are ongoing and have reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s democracy and holding anyone involved in unconstitutional actions fully accountable.
