A group of officers in Nigeria are set to face a military court after being accused of “plotting to overthrow the government” of President Bola Tinubu last year, an armed forces’ statement has said.
Sixteen officers were arrested last October after what were described as “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations”.
At the time the military dismissed rumours of an attempted coup, but following an investigation, the authorities have acknowledged that some of the 16 will go before a military judicial panel.
Nigeria has a complex history of military involvement in politics, with multiple coups between 1966 and 1993, which has made allegations of coup‑plotting highly sensitive.
It is not clear how many of the 16 will go on trial, but the military authorities said the process would ensure accountability and uphold “the principles of fairness and due process”.
A statement added that trying to unseat the elected government was “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards” of the military.
In recent years, concerns over instability, insecurity and public frustration have occasionally prompted rumours about dissent within the ranks – rumours the military has repeatedly dismissed.
Nigeria has experienced a period of unbroken civilian rule since 1999. The armed forces have consistently stressed their loyalty to civilian authority, often issuing public statements reaffirming their commitment to democracy.
This latest development comes at a time when the West African region has experienced a resurgence of coups. Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have all seen their governments toppled by soldiers since the beginning of the decade. However, Guinea recently returned to a democratic rule with the junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya elected president.
These events have created heightened vigilance among governments in the region, including Nigeria, which has traditionally positioned itself as a stabilising force within the regional grouping Ecowas.
Within Nigeria, the military continues to face intense operational pressures – from fighting militant jihadist groups in the north-east to tackling criminals and communal violence across the north‑west and central states.
Analysts say such pressures, combined with resource constraints and public scrutiny, have put the spotlight on discipline within the armed forces.
