The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has revealed that he was among those targeted in the recently foiled alleged coup plot, disclosing that the plan was to arrest him and shoot him if he resisted.
Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, said the plot – allegedly hatched by a network of serving and retired military officers with the support of some civilians – posed a serious enough threat to warrant swift action by security agencies, leading to the arrest of several suspects while others are being tracked internationally through Interpol.
Speaking on Channels Television on a range of security issues, the defence minister described the plotters as “unserious individuals” but stressed that the security threat was real.
“I was also a target, I am sure you know. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” the 58-year-old retired general said. “But that’s the job. Anybody who plans a coup knows the consequences. If you succeed, good for you. If not, you are ready for whatever follows.”
According to Musa, intelligence agencies uncovered secret meetings and communications among the alleged conspirators, whose plan was to violently overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government and disrupt Nigeria’s constitutional order.
More than a dozen serving military officers are currently in custody over the alleged plot, while some civilians linked to the plan are still at large.
During investigations, the name of a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, reportedly surfaced, prompting additional scrutiny. Sylva is said to be out of the country.
Musa questioned the capacity of those involved to successfully execute such a plan, insisting that Nigerians themselves would have resisted any attempt to return the country to military rule.
“Even Nigerians would have fought them. Nigerians fought against military rule for a long time. Mr President was part of that struggle. For anyone to wake up and think they can do that in Nigeria, I think they need to reset their brain,” he said.
He added that most of the suspects were already in custody, while those still at large would be apprehended. He also disclosed that one of the officers allegedly involved had earlier failed to secure promotion because he did not meet the required standards.
The minister defended the military’s initial denial of any coup attempt, explaining that the language used at the time was to avoid public panic while investigations were ongoing.
“Things were being monitored until we were sure of the facts. We didn’t want any innocent person to be wrongly indicted. It was painstaking. I inaugurated the board myself and ensured a thorough investigation involving the Defence Intelligence Agency, the NIA, DSS and others,” he said.
Musa maintained that it is nearly impossible to successfully execute a coup in present-day Nigeria, suggesting that some of the younger officers involved may not have fully understood the gravity of what they were being drawn into. He said security loopholes identified during the investigation had now been blocked.
He also dismissed suggestions that the plot had ethnic undertones, saying the alleged leader may simply have drawn in officers within his immediate circle.
On international cooperation, Musa said Nigeria’s growing defence partnership with Türkiye would not undermine its relationship with the United States, stressing that the country remains committed to a non-aligned foreign policy.
“Nigeria is a non-aligned nation. We can partner with China, Türkiye, the United States—any friendly nation. Isolating yourself with just one bloc is not the best approach,” he said, citing Egypt as an example of a country benefiting from diverse defence partnerships.
He disclosed that military equipment and technology from Türkiye would soon begin arriving in Nigeria following recently signed defence agreements. The partnership, he said, goes beyond procurement to include training, exchange of officers, military education and defence industry cooperation.
“They can come here, produce the same standard equipment they have in Türkiye, transfer the technology, and make it Nigerian-owned,” Musa said.
On a political note, the defence minister said he was considering joining the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“I’ve not transitioned yet. I’m in transition. Not yet, but I think I will be. The APC has given me the platform to present myself right from when I was CDS till date, so why not?” he said.