I was marked for arrest, death in failed coup plot — Defence Minister, Musa

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that he was among the key figures targeted in a failed coup plot, revealing that the plotters planned to shoot him if he resisted arrest.

Gen. Musa made the revelation during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, days after the military confirmed that some of the 16 officers arrested in October would be tried for allegedly attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.

According to the Defence Minister, who is a former Chief of Defence Staff, the coup plot extended to several senior government officials and prominent national figures.

He said he was clearly identified as one of the intended victims of the plot.

“I was also a target,” Musa said. “I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot.”

The military had initially announced in October that 16 officers were arrested for acts of indiscipline and violations of service regulations.

However, authorities later disclosed that investigations linked some of the officers to allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, an act described as a violation of the core ethics and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said officers found to have a case to answer would be arraigned before a military judicial panel in line with the Armed Forces Act and other service regulations.

The alleged coup attempt has been linked in reports to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade.

It was also alleged that the residence of former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, was raided in connection with the plot.

Reacting to the development, Gen. Musa dismissed the plotters as “unserious individuals,” questioning their capacity to challenge the Armed Forces.

“I don’t know what got into their heads to think they could take on the Armed Forces,” he said.

He added that Nigerians would have strongly resisted any attempt to return the country to military rule, noting the nation’s long struggle against military dictatorship.

“Nigerians have fought against military rule for a long time. Mr President himself was part of that struggle. For anyone to think they can just wake up and attempt a coup in Nigeria, they need to reset their thinking,” Musa said.

Nigeria experienced a series of military coups between 1966 and 1993 but returned to democratic governance in 1999.

The attempted coup comes amid a wave of military takeovers and failed coups in parts of West Africa, including a recent attempt in neighbouring Benin Republic.