ABUJA — Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has dismissed the officers behind the foiled October 2025 coup attempt as "a band of confused individuals" who drastically underestimated both the Nigerian military and the Nigerian public.  

Speaking on Arise News this past Friday, May 29, 2026, as the general court-martial for the accused officers continues, the Minister emphasized that the conspiracy was doomed from the start due to a lack of national support.  

"Even Civilians Would Have Taken Them Down"

The Defence Minister stated that the plot, which originated among a group of disgruntled officers, was entirely detached from the reality of the nation's political and social climate.  

"Even the civilians in Nigeria would have taken them down," Musa said. "So I think it was just foolhardy for them to have done what they wanted to do."  

General Musa expressed deep concern over the senior officers involved, noting that they had recklessly compromised the careers of junior personnel. "I just looked at the people that were involved and I shook my head, because they are just a bunch of confused individuals that exposed very junior officers who didn't know their left from their right, and now put them into this mess."  

Transparency in Prosecution

Addressing the ongoing judicial proceedings, the Minister reaffirmed the military’s commitment to a transparent and thorough legal process. He assured the public that the accused officers are being provided with full legal opportunities to defend themselves before the military tribunal.  

"The investigation was very thorough. The prosecution is now ongoing, and the court-martial will go as planned. We are giving them all the benefits to defend themselves," he explained.

Misguided Ambitions

The Minister reiterated that the coup attempt lacked any rational justification. He noted that the Armed Forces have remained well-supported by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, with consistent salary payments and improvements to allowances.  

"They had no reason to do that. The country was going very well. The armed forces have been taken care of quite well... Democracy is far, far better than any military regime. And so this is an opportunity to show the junior ones that this coup doesn't pay."  

Background of the Plot

The foiled plot, which was first uncovered by intelligence agencies in September 2025, involved a cross-section of officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. According to investigators, the orchestrators had planned to target key government officials, including the President and the then-Chief of Defence Staff (General Musa himself).  

After initially denying the existence of a coup plot in late 2025, the Defence Headquarters confirmed in January 2026 that 16 officers would face a court-martial for their roles in the subversion of constitutional authority.