The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that he was a primary target for either abduction or assassination in the recently thwarted coup attempt aimed at President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Appearing on the Channels TV program Sunday Politics, the retired General confirmed that intelligence reports specifically named him as a high-value target for the conspirators.
“I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” Musa disclosed.
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This follows previous reports that the plotters intended to eliminate or detain the nation’s top leadership, including the President, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Musa characterized the plot as a reckless assault on Nigeria’s constitutional order, asserting that the conspirators failed to realize that the public would never support such a move.
“Even without the armed forces, Nigerians will have stood against him,” he said, referencing the country’s history of resisting military rule.
He dismissed the plotters as “unserious individuals” who were fully aware of the lethal risks involved in their actions.
The Minister also shed light on the motives behind the move, specifically pointing to Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, identified as a leader of the group.
According to Musa, Ma’aji was motivated by personal grievances after failing to secure a promotion.
“He didn’t meet the marks to be promoted,” Musa explained, noting that the military maintains extremely strict standards for advancement.
The trajectory of this investigation has shifted significantly since September 2025, when the military initially downplayed the arrests as mere “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” or frustrations over “career stagnation.”
However, on January 26, 2026, the military officially admitted the existence of the coup plot.
Following the initial discovery of the plot, President Tinubu restructured the security hierarchy, briefly sacking several service chiefs.
While Musa was initially replaced as Chief of Defence Staff by Olufemi Oluyede, he was later recalled to serve as the Minister of Defence.
Currently, a total of 40 suspects are in custody and are expected to face trial. Musa concluded by urging the public to remain alert, stating that national stability is a “collective responsibility.”
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