Nigeria's Defence Minister Christopher Musa has stated that the military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government lacked public support so severely that ordinary Nigerians would have thwarted them without military intervention.
Minister's Remarks on Alleged Coup
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, May 29, Musa described the alleged coup plotters as “confused individuals” who dragged inexperienced junior officers into what he termed a doomed operation. “Even the civilians in Nigeria would have taken them down. So I think it was just foolhardy for them to have done what they wanted to do,” he said.
The defence minister expressed disappointment over the caliber of officers allegedly involved in the October 2025 coup plot. “I just looked at the people that were involved and I shook my head, because they are just a bunch of confused individuals that exposed very junior officers who didn’t know their left from their right, and now put them into this mess. It’s quite unfortunate,” Musa stated.
Sympathy for Junior Officers
Musa added that he particularly felt sorry for the lower-ranking officers, whom he described as victims of reckless leadership by senior figures behind the conspiracy. “We always feel bad when we see our colleagues in this situation. But the good thing is that the system has a way of going about it,” he said.
Defense of Court Martial Process
Musa also defended the ongoing court martial process involving officers accused of participating in the alleged coup attempt, insisting the investigation had been thorough and transparent. “The investigation was very thorough. The prosecution is now ongoing, and the court martial will go as planned. We are giving them all the benefits to defend themselves,” he said. “But the facts on the ground are very, very clear, and I can tell you that we are following all the processes. Nothing is hidden.”
No Justification for Coup
The minister argued that there was no justification for any attempt to topple the government, claiming the armed forces had been well treated under the current administration. “They had no reason to do that. The country was going very well. The armed forces have been taken care of quite well. We’ve never had issues with our salaries,” he said. “Efforts have been made to even increase our allowances. Our troops are doing quite well.”
Support for Democracy
Musa reiterated his support for democratic governance, warning younger officers against involvement in unconstitutional actions. “Democracy is far, far better than any military regime. And so this is an opportunity to show the junior ones that this coup doesn’t pay,” he said.
Background of the Alleged Plot
According to earlier disclosures by the minister, the alleged coup plot predated the Tinubu administration and was allegedly linked to a disgruntled colonel who failed promotion examinations for the rank of brigadier-general. The conspiracy reportedly came to light in September 2025 after intelligence gathered by the Nigerian Army and the State Security Service uncovered plans allegedly targeting the May 29, 2023 presidential inauguration. Although the Defence Headquarters initially denied reports of a coup attempt, the military later confirmed that detained officers would face trial before a court martial as investigations widened.
