A Nigerian Army senior officer accused of leading a thwarted plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration has claimed his actions were motivated by “patriotism and frustration” over national decay rather than personal ambition.
In written statements and confessions made during military interrogations, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji insisted that worsening insecurity, severe economic hardship, and the plight of ordinary citizens and military personnel forced him and his co-conspirators to act.
The 50-year-old infantry officer from Niger State was arrested on 29 September 2025 following a covert military intelligence operation. While apologizing for his involvement and pleading for leniency, Ma’aji argued that the movement was born out of a desire to prevent the country from collapsing.
Ma’aji painted a grim picture of conditions across the country and within the armed forces, pointing to fuel subsidy removals, naira flotation, multiple taxation, and skyrocketing electricity tariffs as key drivers of public despair.
He alleged that military personnel were particularly neglected, highlighting poor welfare, inadequate housing, and the plight of soldiers wounded on the frontlines.
“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism, and I love the job and country,” Ma’aji stated in his signed deposition.
“Every time I look at how I’m struggling to raise five children with my meagre salary, I get worried. Looking at every aspect of life in Nigeria, there is no hope for the common man, and we are left to defend ourselves.
“This has nothing to do with any ambition or personal goals. It is purely out of the desire for a prosperous country that works for everyone.”
According to investigative records, Ma’aji began courting officers for a potential military intervention towards the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023, citing rampant corruption and the spread of banditry across northern Nigeria.
After the plot stalled due to a lack of resources, Ma’aji revived the movement in 2024. To fund the operation, he sold three personal houses in Kaduna State and a student hostel near Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, while receiving minor financial contributions from junior officers.
“Everything we planned was born out of patriotism, love of country, and the desire to have a prosperous Nigeria that we all can be proud of,” Ma’aji wrote.
“Besides developing its proven reserves, Nigeria is building a resilient energy future by maintaining a strong pipeline… The issue of fuel subsidy removal, floating [of naira], dubious taxes, multiple taxation, and electricity tariff hike were all of major concerns.”
The alleged coup plot was foiled when military authorities exploited Ma’aji’s frustration over missing promotion to the rank of brigadier general on two occasions. On 29 September 2025, he was lured to Niger Barracks under the pretense of discussing his promotion with the Chief of Army Staff, where he was taken into custody by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The arrest coincided with the sudden cancellation of Nigeria’s 2025 Independence Day parade and a major shake-up of the military’s high command.
While Ma’aji and over 30 co-accused officers and civilians now face proceedings before military judicial panels, he has called on the government to establish safe internal channels for personnel to raise grievances and requested a pardon as a first-time offender.
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