Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has revealed that he was a prime target in a foiled coup attempt, claiming that plotters had orders to “shoot him” if he resisted arrest.
In a revealing interview with Channels Television on Sunday, the retired General and former Chief of Defence Staff detailed how he was marked for elimination by a group of officers currently awaiting trial.
“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” Gen. Musa said. Despite the gravity of the threat, he described the alleged conspirators as “unserious individuals” who underestimated the loyalty of the wider armed forces and the Nigerian public.
A plot long denied
The Minister’s comments come just days after the Nigerian military finally broke its silence on the affair. For months, the government had dismissed reports of a coup attempt as mere “indiscipline” within the ranks.
However, on 26 January, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that a “comprehensive” investigation had uncovered a plan to violently oust the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
- The Timeline: 16 officers were arrested in early October 2025.
- The Charges: Initially described as “breaches of service regulations,” they now face court-martials for plotting an overthrow.
- The Consequences: Under the Armed Forces Act, the officers could face the death penalty if convicted.
High-level hit list
The scope of the plot appears to have been far-reaching. Beyond the Defence Minister, several of Nigeria’s highest-ranking officials were reportedly marked for assassination:
- President Bola Tinubu
- Vice-President Kashim Shettima
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio
- Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas
The Nollywood connection
In a bizarre twist, the investigation has also led to the arrest of a prominent Nollywood director, Stanley Amandi. Authorities allege the filmmaker was recruited as a “propagandist” to manage the media narrative and justify the takeover to the world had the coup succeeded.
“What I even said was even Nigerians will have fought them,” Gen Musa added during his interview. “Nigerians have fought against military rule for quite some time and would have stood against them.”
Analysis: A test for Nigeria’s democracy
By Segun Ojumu, Africa Eye News, Abuja
Nigeria spent much of the 20th century under the shadow of the gun, and while it has enjoyed 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, this latest plot is a chilling reminder of the fragility of that peace. The fact that the military initially denied the plot suggests a high level of sensitivity within the Presidential Villa.
By coming forward now, Gen. Musa is attempting to project strength and unity. However, the trial of these 16 officers will be a major test of the country’s military justice system. The government must balance the need for a swift, deterrent punishment with the transparency required to prove to a skeptical public that this was a genuine threat and not a move to purge internal dissent.
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