‘I Was Marked for Death’: Defence Minister Gen Musa Reveals Details of Foiled Coup Plot Against Tinubu

By Tgnews Reporter 

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has disclosed that he was personally targeted for arrest—or assassination—in a recently foiled coup plot aimed at overthrowing President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a candid interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme aired on February 1, 2026, the former Chief of Defence Staff revealed the plotters’ explicit plans against him.

“I was also a target, I am sure you know,” General Musa stated. “I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot.”

The revelation follows the Nigerian military’s confirmation last month that approximately 16 officers ranging in rank from Captain to Brigadier-General were arrested in October 2025.

Initially described as detained for “acts of indiscipline,” further investigations uncovered evidence of a deliberate conspiracy to destabilise and subvert the government.

Security sources indicate the plot, uncovered in late September 2025 through coordinated intelligence from the Army, Department of State Services (DSS), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), targeted several high-profile figures, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other senior officials.

The scheme reportedly prompted the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade due to fears of an attack during the public event.

General Musa dismissed the conspirators as “a bunch of unserious individuals” who grossly underestimated the loyalty of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian people’s commitment to democracy.

He stressed that the plot had no basis in dissatisfaction with the current administration and appeared rooted in personal grievances, such as frustrations over promotions.

On justice and accountability, the Defence Minister assured that the accused officers would receive a fair trial before a military judicial panel, with full access to legal representation.

He noted that individuals who embark on such grave conspiracies fully understand the severe consequences, adding that the government is committed to treating the families of the detained officers fairly throughout the process.

The disclosures highlight persistent challenges within Nigeria’s security apparatus and the Tinubu administration’s determination to safeguard constitutional order amid broader regional instability in West Africa. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the vigilance required to protect democratic institutions.