Nigeria’s military command has announced it will formally prosecute several officers for their alleged involvement in a foiled 2025 plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. The Defense Headquarters confirmed the conclusion of investigations on Monday, reversing the administration’s initial denial of the conspiracy. Major General Samaila Uba, speaking for the military, stated that investigators had identified specific officers with connections to the plot and that those with established cases would face a military judicial panel. While no trial date has been set, legal experts indicate the accused could potentially face capital punishment if convicted.
The affair first surfaced in October when military authorities announced the arrest of 16 personnel for ‘issues of indiscipline,’ though multiple government and military sources independently confirmed to AFP the detentions were coup-related. Despite official statements downplaying the incident, President Tinubu subsequently executed a significant reshuffle of the nation’s top military leadership—a move characterized by a senior administration official as addressing ‘a gap in intelligence.’ Notably, General Christopher Musa was initially removed as chief of defence staff but later reappointed as defence minister.
This alleged conspiracy threatened to disrupt a quarter-century of uninterrupted democracy in Africa’s most populous nation, which transitioned to civilian rule in 1999 after prolonged periods of military junta governance post-independence from Britain. The initial reports of a thwarted coup emerged in Nigerian media before being overshadowed by diplomatic tensions with the United States regarding religious violence and counterterrorism efforts.
The development occurs against a backdrop of significant security challenges for Nigeria’s military, which is engaged in multifront conflicts against Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates in the northeast, rampant banditry in the northwest, and separatist movements in the southeast. These operations have stretched military resources thin, with analysts noting rising violence projections for 2025 and periodic reports of troop grievances over unpaid wages and operational conditions. The United States has recently enhanced security cooperation with Nigeria, conducting joint strikes against insurgents and expanding intelligence sharing to support aerial campaigns in northern regions.