Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has stated that military officers arrested over the foiled coup in October 2025 were fully aware of the potential consequences of their actions.

The 16 officers, including a brigadier general and a colonel, were initially detained following acts described by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) as “indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.” On January 26, 2026, the DHQ officially confirmed that the officers were involved in a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.

The alleged coup, uncovered through combined intelligence from the Army, Department of State Services (DSS), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in late September 2025, reportedly included plans to assassinate President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other senior government and military officials.

Speaking to TRT World, Musa assured that the accused officers would receive a fair trial with access to legal counsel of their choice. He also revealed that the government was taking steps to ensure the welfare of the families of the alleged plotters.

“They must have made up their minds when they decided to do this and must have considered their families,” Musa said. “But even so, the government is making sure their wives and children are looked after. The perpetrators already know the repercussions of their action, and I am confident they are ready to face the consequences.”

The Ministry of Defence continues to maintain vigilance to safeguard national security and prevent any future attempts to destabilize the country.