Nigeria’s Defence Minister has revealed that the alleged coup plotters intended to shoot him if he resisted arrest during the failed attempt.

In an interview on national television, the minister, who was Chief of Defence Staff at the time of the plot, said he was a prime target of the military officers behind the botched attempt.

“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he said.

He described the alleged plotters as “unserious individuals” and expressed disbelief at their audacity to take on the Armed Forces. “Even the citizens would have resisted them,” he added.

The minister also noted that anyone attempting a coup must be prepared for the consequences if they fail. “Anybody who goes into a coup… if you succeed, good; if you don’t, you must accept the consequences,” he said.

Background

In October 2025, the government cancelled the parade to mark the country’s 65th independence anniversary, sparking reports that it was linked to an alleged coup attempt. Defence Headquarters initially dismissed these claims, stating that the arrests of several officers earlier that month were unrelated to any overthrow plans.

However, in January 2026, the DHQ confirmed that intelligence from the army, the national security service, and the defence intelligence agency had uncovered a plot targeting the president, vice-president, and senior military leaders. The alleged plan included assassination attempts and the arrest of top officials.

The minister’s revelation underscores the severity of the threat faced by the nation and the high stakes involved in attempts to destabilize the government.