Nigerian Military to Try Officers Over Alleged Coup Against President Tinubu

Nigerian Military to Try Officers Over Alleged Coup Against President Tinubu

Nigeria’s military has confirmed that several officers will face trial after an internal investigation uncovered an alleged coup plot targeting the administration of President Bola Tinubu, marking the first official acknowledgment of the suspected attempt to overthrow the government.

The Defence Headquarters disclosed that the charges stem from a probe launched after at least 16 officers were arrested in October for acts described as indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. Investigators later concluded that some of the detained personnel were involved in planning to topple the government.

Military spokesperson Samaila Uba said the investigation identified officers with allegations “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required” of members of the Armed Forces. Those found culpable will be arraigned before a military judicial panel in line with service laws and procedures.

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Authorities did not disclose the identities of the officers or specify how many would ultimately face trial, but stressed that additional measures were being implemented to preserve discipline, order, and operational effectiveness within the military.

The alleged plot could have threatened nearly 25 years of uninterrupted civilian rule in Africa’s most populous nation, raising fresh concerns about democratic stability amid a wave of coups and attempted takeovers across parts of West and Central Africa.

Reports indicate that the Nigerian government had initially denied claims of a coup when the arrests first occurred, attributing unrest among some officers to career frustrations before the investigation concluded otherwise.

Analysts warn that growing economic hardship and controversial policies have fueled public discontent, factors often linked to military interventions in the region. Still, the armed forces maintain that the disciplinary process is part of institutional safeguards designed to uphold professionalism and constitutional order.

Nigerian Military to Try Officers Over Alleged Coup Against President Tinubu