Former Director of Army Public Relations, retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka-Usman, has said that the recent attempted coup came as a shock to the Nigerian military, noting that it underscored the need for closer alignment between the armed forces and the wider society.
Kukasheka-Usman made the remarks on Tuesday, the 27th of January, 2026, during an appearance on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise Television, where he reflected on the military’s evolving role within Nigeria’s democratic space.
He explained that the armed forces have undergone significant reforms over the past 15 years, shaped by continuous exposure to democratic governance and civil-military relations.
“The nuances of democracy as it were, and having gone through that, and of course, we have had an uninterrupted democratic governance for 26 years now.
“So both the military and then society were taken aback, and hence the concern, and I’m not holding brief for them, but I think that issue has been led to rest.
“There is a renewed understanding given by the recent statement, I think, yesterday, by the Director of Defense Information, in which he referred to their October statement and said it is an update as regards to the issue.
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“Now, having investigated the matter and without any idea of doubt, establishing their facts rightly, they talked about acts of indiscipline, overthrow discipline and breach of service regulations, and of course, attempt to overthrow democratic governance.
“So automatically, I think now they understand to be on the same page with the Nigerian society, because the more enlightened people are, the easier for them to be governed, because they will understand and they will even participate in the, you know, governing process,” he said.
He added that the outcome of internal investigations and recent official communications had helped clarify the situation, reinforcing the military’s commitment to democratic principles and public accountability.