Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has publicly confirmed that coup plotters targeting the government had placed him on their list for either arrest or execution.
During an appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics programme, the retired army general revealed that intelligence reports from the investigation identified him as a specific target of the conspirators.
“The plan was to arrest me, and if I resisted, I would have been killed,” Mr Musa stated during the Sunday broadcast.
PREMIUM TIMES had previously published an exclusive report in October 2025 detailing how the plotters identified senior government figures for elimination or detention.
According to a security source familiar with the investigation, the conspiracy involved plans to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other high-ranking officials. Mr Musa, who served as Chief of Defence Staff at the time, was among those slated for arrest.
Details of the Conspiracy
The minister explained that the scheme involved systematic efforts to capture prominent political and security leaders, with authorization to use deadly force against anyone who opposed detention.
Mr Musa characterized the plot as a serious threat to Nigeria’s security framework and constitutional governance, emphasizing the conspirators’ dangerous disregard for consequences.
He suggested the plotters miscalculated both the government’s capacity and public sentiment, arguing that citizens would have rejected such actions regardless of military intervention.
“Nigerian citizens would have opposed them even without military resistance,” Mr Musa noted, referencing historical instances of civilian opposition to military rule.
The minister dismissed the conspirators as “unserious individuals” who failed to properly assess the risks inherent in attempting to overthrow the government.
Background to the Plot
In late September 2025, military authorities detained 16 officers suspected of planning to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration, as initially reported by this newspaper.
Military leadership first described the arrests as related to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
By October 4, the Defence Headquarters released findings suggesting the officers’ motivations stemmed from “career stagnation and failure in promotion examinations.”
Mr Musa reinforced this assessment in his recent television appearance, specifically mentioning the alleged ringleader, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, who he said harbored resentment over being passed over for promotion.
The defence minister explained that the colonel “failed to meet the required standards for advancement,” noting the military’s rigorous promotion criteria.
Following the coup attempt’s discovery, President Tinubu restructured the military leadership, removing service chiefs including Mr Musa. Only Olufemi Oluyede and Emmanuel Undiandeye retained their positions.
Mr Oluyede, formerly Chief of Army Staff, received promotion to Chief of Defence Staff in Mr Musa’s place, while Mr Undiandeye continued as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Subsequently, amid rising concerns following US President Donald Trump’s allegations of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, Mr Musa returned to government service as Minister of Defence, succeeding Muhammed Badaru, who resigned due to health issues.
On January 26, military authorities officially acknowledged the authenticity of the coup plot and announced that implicated officers would face prosecution.
PREMIUM TIMES has learned that approximately 40 suspects are in custody and will stand trial.
Mr Musa urged Nigerians to stay alert and participate actively in national matters, stressing that the country’s stability requires shared commitment from all citizens.
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