Many Nigerians were quick to dismiss last year’s failed coup plot to topple the President Bola Tinubu administration as a ruse. Scanty information from the authorities, at best, painted only a hazy picture.
Others who considered it probable scrambled for details but only got more puzzling questions than answers.
Whether attempted, aborted or successful, coups are steeped in Nigeria’s history, leaving lasting impressions on its landscapes, and considerably shaping its trajectory. After 30 years’ break, another coup suddenly looming on the horizon last year jolted many who were conscious of its historical significance and implications for the nation’s future.
The news about the plot first emerged in October 2025 following the arrest of a group of serving and retired officers in late September. The Defence Headquarters initially described the arrests as part of a “routine internal process” to maintain discipline and professionalism in the military. It later acknowledged that the officers were being investigated over an alleged coup plot.
When the military finally admitted the plot publicly, only little more than what the public knew through scoops was said. Some more details emerged when some suspects were charged and their trials began at the General Court Martial and the Federal High Court in Abuja, but stubborn questions persisted.
