Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has revealed that he was among those targeted by officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, saying the conspirators planned to shoot him if he resisted arrest.
Musa made the disclosure on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, days after the military announced that 16 officers arrested in October 2025 would face trial over an alleged coup plot. According to the former Chief of Defence Staff, he became aware that he was listed as a direct target of the plotters.
“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” Musa said. He described the alleged coup planners as poorly prepared and lacking seriousness. “That’s the job. And anybody who goes into a coup, I mean, zeroes his mind because you know, if you succeed, good; if you don’t, whatever consequences come, you’re ready for it. But again, I think these guys were just a bunch of very unserious individuals that really don’t know. If you look at the calibre of the individuals, I don’t know what got into their heads to think that they could take on the armed forces like that. Even Nigerians would have fought them. Remember, Nigerians have fought against military rule for quite some time.”
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The military initially announced the arrest of 16 officers in October 2025, citing acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. However, a statement released last week indicated that further investigations linked some of the officers to allegations of attempting to overthrow the government, which was described as conduct contrary to the ethics and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, stated that those found to have cases to answer would be arraigned before a military judicial panel in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other relevant service regulations. He emphasized that the process is intended to ensure accountability while observing fairness and due process.
The Defence Minister’s revelation underscores the gravity of the alleged coup plot and highlights the government’s efforts to maintain discipline and stability within the military. It also serves as a reminder of the continuing challenges faced by Nigeria’s armed forces in safeguarding national security while upholding professional standards.
