The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), has explained why the military initially dismissed reports of a foiled coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, saying caution and verification guided its response.
Musa spoke on Sunday, February 1, during an interview on Sunday Politics, a Channels Television programme, while answering questions on the controversy surrounding the delayed confirmation.
According to him, allegations of a coup are extremely sensitive and require careful handling to avoid misinformation and security breaches.
“Once you mention coup, you will not see some of these guys because they know the consequences,” Musa said.
He explained that the situation initially appeared as an internal act of indiscipline, adding that the full scope only became clear during investigations.
“The truth is that we wanted to be sure because it was an act of indiscipline and it’s all part of it because for what they did started just like that,” he said.
READ ALSO: DHQ Confirms Coup Plot Against Tinubu, Says Officers To Face Trial
Musa noted that critical details emerged gradually, making it necessary for the military to proceed methodically before addressing the public.
“So, it was during the investigation that these things got revealed. And so, it was important for us to follow the steps to ensure that what we are reporting is direct,” he said.
He stressed that consistency was vital, given the gravity of such allegations.
“This is because coup is such a serious thing that we don’t want to say this today and tomorrow we say another thing. It’s better we say no for now until we find out after investigation,” Musa added.
Reports of a coup plot against President Tinubu surfaced in late September 2025, which the military denied.
Suspicions were further compounded with the cancellation of the October 1 Independence day Parade, sparking widespread speculation.
The Defence Headquarters later confirmed the plot on January 26, following joint intelligence operations involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, and the Defence Intelligence Agency.