The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has revealed that he was a target of officers accused of planning to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, Musa said the plotters had planned to shoot him if he resisted arrest. The disclosure comes days after the military announced that 16 officers, arrested in October 2025 over the alleged coup attempt, would face trial.

Musa, who previously served as Chief of Defence Staff, said he became aware that he was specifically listed as a target. He stated:

“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot. But that’s the job. Anybody who goes into a coup knows the risks: if you succeed, fine; if not, you face the consequences.

“However, these individuals were clearly not serious. Looking at their calibre, I don’t understand what made them think they could take on the armed forces. Even without the military, Nigerians themselves would have resisted them, as the country has a history of standing against military rule.”