ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has warned that anyone planning a coup in Nigeria is wasting time, insisting that Nigerians and the armed forces remain firmly committed to democratic rule.
Musa made the remarks during an interview on Arise News, while reacting to the ongoing trial of military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government. He described the alleged plotters as “foolhardy” and said they had neither public support nor any credible justification for attempting to seize power.
“Anybody who is thinking of planning a coup, I think he is just wasting his time,” Musa said. He argued that even civilians would have resisted any such attempt, adding that Nigerians had experienced military rule before and understood that democracy remained the better option.
The defence minister said the officers accused in the alleged October 2025 coup plot lacked a genuine grievance, noting that the Tinubu administration had supported the armed forces through salaries, welfare and operational backing. He said troops were being taken care of and that efforts had been made to improve allowances.
Musa also alleged that some of the accused officers had planned to shoot him if he resisted arrest during the plot. He said the matter was now before a general court martial and that due process would be followed in handling all those implicated.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier confirmed that several military officers would face trial over an alleged plot to remove the elected government. The case followed the arrest of officers in October 2025, initially described by authorities as involving breaches of service discipline before investigators said the matter involved a coup conspiracy.
Nigeria has a long history of military rule and coups, from the first coup in 1966 to the last successful takeover in 1993. Since the return to democracy in 1999, political leaders and military authorities have repeatedly emphasised civilian control of the armed forces.
Musa’s warning comes amid wider regional anxiety over military takeovers in West and Central Africa, where several countries have experienced coups in recent years. Nigeria, as a leading member of ECOWAS, has consistently condemned unconstitutional changes of government and supported regional efforts to defend democratic rule.
The minister said the armed forces would continue to protect Nigeria’s constitution, defend democracy and resist any attempt to destabilise the country.
