Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has said military officers arrested over the foiled coup plot against President Bola Tinubu were fully aware of the consequences of their actions.

Sixteen officers, including a brigadier general and a colonel, were arrested in October 2025 after the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced it was investigating what it initially described as acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations. On January 26, the DHQ confirmed that the arrests were linked to a plot to overthrow the government.

According to the military, the alleged plot was uncovered in late September 2025 through joint intelligence operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). The plan reportedly included attempts to assassinate President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other senior government officials, as well as to arrest top military leaders.

Speaking during an interview on TRT World, a Turkish television network, Musa said the accused officers would be given a fair trial and allowed access to legal counsel of their choice.

He added that the federal government was also taking steps to ensure the welfare of the families of those accused.

“They must have made up their minds when they decided to do this and must have considered their families,” Musa said. “Even so, the government is ensuring that their families are treated fairly.

“Their wives and children will not be abandoned. The perpetrators already know the repercussions of their actions, and I believe they are prepared to face the consequences.”