Nigerian military confirms foiled coup attempt against Tinubu, moves to try officers

Nigeria’s military has formally confirmed for the first time that an attempted coup was uncovered last year, saying some serving officers investigated for indiscipline were found to have plotted to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Defence Headquarters said investigations into 16 officers arrested in October 2025 had been completed, with a number of them identified as having “allegations of plotting to overthrow the government.”

“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the military said.

Those officers “with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panel to face trial,” the statement added, stressing that the process would follow the Armed Forces Act and existing service regulations.

If convicted, officers found guilty of coup plotting under Nigerian military law could face the death penalty.

The announcement marks the first official acknowledgement by Nigeria’s armed forces – and by extension the government – that a coup attempt was foiled last year, after reports that several personnel had been detained over an alleged plot.

At the time, authorities did not publicly confirm the nature of the allegations, describing the arrests only as disciplinary matters.

Leadership shake-up after coup reports

Shortly after the arrests became public in October, Tinubu carried out a sweeping replacement of Nigeria’s service chiefs, a move widely interpreted as an effort to tighten control of the military and reinforce loyalty amid mounting security challenges.

Nigeria is battling multiple threats, including insurgency in the northeast, terrorism and armed banditry in the northwest and northeast, separatist violence in the southeast, and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The military said the current proceedings were “purely disciplinary” and part of internal mechanisms “to preserve order, discipline and operational effectiveness within the ranks,” while reaffirming its “respect for constitutional authority.”

Coups surge across West Africa

The confirmation comes against the backdrop of a wave of military takeovers across Africa, particularly in West Africa, where coups have reshaped regional politics in recent years.

Since 2020, the military has seized power in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger, while attempted coups have been reported or foiled in several other countries.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and a regional power, has positioned itself as a key opponent of military rule. In 2025, Nigerian security agencies helped thwart a coup attempt in neighbouring Benin.