Nigeria to Try Military Officers Over Alleged Coup Plot

Nigeria’s armed forces have confirmed that several military officers will face trial over allegations that they attempted to overthrow President Bola Tinubu in an incident uncovered last October. The confirmation follows an internal investigation into a group of 16 officers who were detained last year.

According to reporting by the Financial Times, the military stated that “a number” of the detained personnel were directly linked to plans to disrupt constitutional order and remove the president. The military did not disclose how many officers will be prosecuted or provide their identities.

A statement issued by defence spokesperson Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba said the suspects would be subjected to military judicial procedures. He added that the institution intends to maintain discipline, stability, and operational readiness as proceedings continue. No trial dates have been announced.

Plot Discovered Ahead of Independence Day Parade

The alleged coup attempt reportedly came to light just before Nigeria’s Independence Day ceremonies on October 1, 2024. According to FT’s reporting, foreign intelligence—specifically from the United States—alerted Abuja to a possible threat aimed at the president during the national parade.

The presidency abruptly cancelled official celebrations that day, triggering rumours of a failed coup attempt. At the time, Nigerian officials dismissed the rumours, insisting the detained officers were merely dissatisfied with stalled career progression.

Weeks later, on October 24, President Tinubu removed the chief of defence staff and the heads of the army, navy, and air force, along with the defence minister, in what analysts viewed as a direct response to the security breach.

Nigerian historian Feyi Fawehinmi told the FT that the incident reflected a misplaced assumption that the military had no appetite to intervene in politics. He noted that successive coups across the Sahel—including in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Gabon—have created a regional environment where military adventurism is again possible.

A Country With a Troubled Coup History

Nigeria experienced multiple coups between 1966 and 1993 before returning to civilian government in 1999. While the armed forces have since claimed neutrality in governance, the newly revealed investigation marks the most serious insider threat to civilian rule in decades.

Security pressures have intensified in recent years as Nigerian troops are deployed to multiple conflict zones, including Islamist insurgency areas in the northeast, banditry hotspots in the northwest, and violent clashes between farmers and herders across central states.

Under Tinubu, Nigeria has positioned itself as a defender of democratic transitions in West Africa. Last month, Nigerian troops were deployed to assist Benin’s government in repelling an attempted coup in Cotonou.

Rights Concerns Over Detained Officers

Local human rights advocates say the detained officers have been held incommunicado for months. Activist Yusuf Musa Dauda told Nigerian media that the group has been denied contact with relatives and adequate medical care.

Authorities have not publicly responded to concerns about their welfare.

With trials expected in the coming weeks, the case underscores growing anxieties about political stability in Africa’s most populous nation as the region confronts an escalating wave of military interventions.