Nigeria's military has announced that a group of officers will stand trial for their alleged role in a conspiracy to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu. The move follows a months-long investigation into a suspected coup plot that was foiled last October.
Sixteen personnel were initially detained last fall over reported "acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations," amid local media reports of a failed attempt to seize power. In a statement on Monday, the Nigeria Defence Headquarters said a subsequent "comprehensive investigation" concluded that "a number" of those arrested were involved in a plot to destabilize the government.
"Those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before [the] appropriate military judicial panel to face trial," army spokesman Samaila Uba stated. "This ensures accountability while upholding the principles of fairness and due process."
The authorities did not disclose the identities or specific ranks of the suspects.
A Region in Political Turmoil
The alleged plot emerges against a backdrop of significant political instability across West Africa, where military juntas have seized power in Nigeria's neighbors—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—often citing the failure of civilian governments. Nigeria itself transitioned to democracy in 1999, marking its longest uninterrupted civilian rule since independence.
President Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, has faced domestic criticism over a severe cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by economic reforms including the contentious removal of a long-standing fuel subsidy. At the same time, his administration has positioned itself as a regional defender of democratic norms, supporting ECOWAS's efforts to pressure the military regimes in neighboring capitals and restore constitutional order.
The upcoming military trial underscores the tense political climate in Africa's most populous nation, as its democratic institutions are tested by both internal military dissent and regional upheaval.