Nigerian Military Officers Head to Trial Over Alleged Coup Plan

Nigerian military authorities have confirmed that several officers will face trial following allegations that they plotted to overthrow the country’s government.

The Defence Headquarters announced on Monday that an internal investigation has concluded, uncovering evidence of an alleged coup attempt targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The case stems from the arrest of at least 16 officers in October, initially detained for what the military described as serious breaches of discipline and service regulations. At the time, reports of a foiled coup circulated in local media, raising alarm amid a wave of military takeovers across West Africa.

According to military spokesperson Samaila Uba, the investigative panel found that some of the officers were involved in actions “inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” including plans to unlawfully seize power.

Those found culpable will be arraigned before a military judicial panel and tried under established military legal procedures. Authorities have not disclosed how many of the arrested officers will face prosecution, nor have their identities been made public.

The Defence Headquarters said additional steps are being taken to reinforce discipline, order, and operational effectiveness within the armed forces.

The development comes against a backdrop of growing regional instability, with coups and attempted coups recorded in several West and Central African countries in recent years, including late-2025 incidents in Benin and Guinea-Bissau.

Nigeria, which gained independence from Britain in 1960, experienced prolonged periods of military rule beginning in 1966, marked by multiple coups. The country’s last military takeover occurred in 1993, before the return to civilian, multi-party democracy in 1999.

In recent months, analysts have warned that rising economic hardship, security challenges, and public dissatisfaction—exacerbated by government austerity measures—have increased political tension within Africa’s most populous nation.