The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, has described officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration as ill-prepared and lacking meaningful support, insisting that even civilians could have easily resisted them.
Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, Musa said the alleged coup plotters were “confused individuals” who irresponsibly involved junior officers in what he termed a failed and misguided attempt.
He stated that the group had no real capacity to execute such a plan, adding that their actions were reckless and poorly conceived.
“Even the civilians in Nigeria would have taken them down. So I think it was just foolhardy for them to have done what they wanted to do,” he said.
The Defence Minister expressed shock at the calibre of those allegedly involved, noting that the situation exposed the vulnerability of junior personnel who were drawn into the plot without proper understanding.
He added that many of the lower-ranked officers involved were misled and placed in a difficult situation by their seniors.
“We always feel bad when we see our colleagues in this situation, but the system has a way of dealing with it,” he said.
Musa also confirmed that the ongoing court martial process was being conducted transparently, stressing that the accused officers were being given fair opportunity to defend themselves.
According to him, investigations were thorough and the trial would continue in line with established military procedures.
He further dismissed any justification for the alleged coup attempt, arguing that conditions within the armed forces and the country did not warrant such action.
The minister reiterated that salaries and allowances in the military were being paid regularly and that troops were adequately supported.
Musa also used the opportunity to reaffirm his support for democratic governance, stating that military rule was not a better alternative.
“Democracy is far, far better than any military regime,” he said, adding that the incident should serve as a lesson against unconstitutional power grabs.
Earlier reports indicated that the alleged coup plot predated the current administration and was linked to grievances within the military, including promotion-related issues.
The Nigerian Army and security agencies had initially denied the existence of a coup attempt before later confirming that some officers were under investigation and would face a court martial.
