Military Finally Admits Secret Coup Attempt, Indicted Officers Now Headed for Trial

The Nigerian military has finally “come clean” regarding the whispers of unrest that have shadowed the Presidential Villa for months. In a major reversal of its previous stance, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that a group of soldiers did, in fact, attempt to stage a coup against President Bola Tinubu late last year.

For months, the official line from Abuja was one of calm. When 16 officers were whisked into custody in October 2025, the military insisted it was nothing more than a “routine disciplinary matter” involving minor breaches of service regulations. However, following a deep-dive investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the truth has finally surfaced: some of those officers were allegedly planning to topple the government.

“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics and values required of the Armed Forces,” stated Major General Samaila Uba, the military’s spokesperson.

The plot, which allegedly included plans to target the nation’s highest-ranking leaders, reportedly led to the abrupt cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade last October a connection the government had previously denied. Now that the investigation report has been formally submitted to President Tinubu, the military is moving swiftly to the next phase of “house cleaning.”

The indicted officers, whose ranks reportedly include high-ranking personnel, will not be heading to a regular court. Instead, they are set to face a military Court Martial. This specialized judicial panel will determine their fate under the Armed Forces Act, where the penalties for treason and mutiny are famously severe.

By taking this matter to trial, the DHQ says it is sending a clear message: the era of “military intervention” in Nigerian politics is over. While the revelation has sent a jolt through the country’s political circles, the military high command is doubling down on its commitment to democracy, insisting that these “bad eggs” do not represent the thousands of soldiers who remain loyal to the Commander-in-Chief.

As the “Student-Emir” in Kano hits the books and Lagos lawmakers shift their allegiances, the nation now turns its eyes toward the barracks, waiting to see how this high-stakes military trial will unfold.