Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, has explained why the military initially dismissed reports of an attempted coup against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before later confirming the plot. The explanation comes amid public scrutiny over the military’s early response to allegations that surfaced in late 2025.
General Musa made the clarification while speaking on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television, where he addressed questions on national security and the military’s communication strategy during sensitive investigations.
According to the defence minister, the armed forces deliberately exercised caution because allegations of a coup carry grave national and international consequences. He stressed that the military could not afford to make premature public declarations without verified intelligence.
Musa explained that once the word “coup” is introduced into public discourse, suspects often go underground, complicating investigations and potentially jeopardising national security operations. He noted that discretion was necessary to avoid alerting those involved before authorities had sufficient evidence.
He further stated that the alleged actions initially appeared as acts of indiscipline within the ranks, which required careful internal assessment before drawing broader conclusions. It was during this investigative process, he said, that more serious details surrounding the plot emerged.
The minister emphasised that the military followed established procedures to ensure that any information released to the public was accurate, direct, and supported by intelligence findings. He warned that conflicting statements could damage public trust and create unnecessary panic.
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Musa added that it was more responsible for the military to temporarily deny the reports than to issue statements that might later require retraction. He described the approach as a deliberate effort to uphold institutional credibility and national stability.
Reports of an alleged coup plot first emerged in late September 2025, suggesting plans to remove President Tinubu from office. At the time, the military publicly dismissed the claims, stating there was no credible threat to the constitutional order.
However, on January 26, 2026, the Defence Headquarters officially confirmed that an attempted coup had indeed been uncovered following extensive investigations. The confirmation marked a significant shift from earlier denials.
The Defence Headquarters disclosed that the plot was exposed through coordinated intelligence efforts involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic system.
