‘I Was Marked for Death’ — Defence Minister Musa Reveals Coup Plotters Planned to Shoot Him, Tinubu

By Otobong Gabriel,  Abuja 

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that suspected coup plotters planned to shoot him if he resisted arrest during a failed attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking on Channels Television on Sunday, Musa disclosed that he was a prime target of the renegade military officers behind the botched plot, describing them as “unserious individuals” who underestimated the strength of the Armed Forces.

Musa, who served as Chief of Defence Staff when the alleged plot was being hatched, said the conspirators had concluded plans to detain him — and kill him if necessary.

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

He dismissed the plotters as ill-prepared and reckless, questioning how they believed they could successfully confront Nigeria’s military establishment.

“If you look at the calibre of persons, I don’t know what got into their heads that they could take on the Armed Forces like that. Even Nigerians would have fought them,” Musa added.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had earlier denied reports linking the cancellation of Nigeria’s Independence Day anniversary events to the coup attempt, insisting the decision was unrelated.

It also clarified that the arrest of 16 officers was not initially connected to an overthrow plan.

However, on January 26, the DHQ confirmed that intelligence agencies uncovered a coordinated plot in late September 2025. 

The scheme allegedly involved plans to assassinate President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other senior government officials, while detaining top military commanders.

Authorities said joint intelligence from the army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) foiled the plan before it could be executed, with several suspects arrested and others still being tracked.

The revelation underscores fresh concerns about internal threats within the military and renewed efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic order.