By Sandra Ugwu 

Widespread outrage has greeted reports alleging that some military officers were plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Senior lawyers, civil society leaders, and retired military generals have unanimously condemned any move to subvert Nigeria’s democratic order, describing it as unconstitutional, retrogressive, and dangerous.

The Defence Headquarters swiftly dismissed the reports, clarifying that there was no ongoing coup plot or related detention within the Armed Forces. Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, stated that the military remained committed to constitutional governance.

“I am not aware that people were detained for a coup. We didn’t issue any new statement on the 16 people we said were detained. What we issued is what we issued, and there’s no update on that. If there’s one, we will let the public know,” Gusau told Sunday PUNCH.

In a previous statement dated October 4, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the detention of 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of military regulations, explaining that their grievances stemmed from perceived stagnation in promotions rather than any political motive.

Despite this, online reports alleged that the detained officers — from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General — were arrested by the Defence Intelligence Agency for allegedly plotting a coup scheduled for October 1. Anonymous sources also claimed the planned mutiny was foiled a day before Nigeria’s Independence Day, leading to the parade’s cancellation.

However, legal luminaries under the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have strongly rejected the notion of a coup, stressing that military rule has no place in modern Nigeria.

Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), said Nigerians must collectively resist any attempt to truncate democracy. “No hardship or political dissatisfaction justifies a return to military dictatorship. The worst civilian government is still better than the best military regime,” he said.

Another SAN, Kunle Adegoke, warned that a coup would have disastrous consequences for the country, adding that those romanticising military intervention were largely ignorant of its historical brutality. “It is better to have an imperfect democracy than a perfect military regime,” he asserted.

Similarly, Yusuf Ali (SAN) described any form of coup as “catastrophic,” warning that Nigeria was still paying for the damages inflicted by past military governments.

Retired generals also dismissed the reports, urging Nigerians to remain calm. Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) described the rumour as politically motivated, saying the military was “solidly behind President Tinubu.”

Brigadier General Peter Aro (retd.) said today’s military is more professional and globally oriented. “These are not the soldiers of the 1980s. They are educated, disciplined, and loyal to constitutional order,” he noted.

Supporting this view, Brigadier General George Emdin (retd.) said he found it difficult to believe the coup allegation, insisting that the present military leadership was firmly committed to democracy.

Civil society organisations have also expressed solidarity with democratic governance. The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, urged a thorough investigation, stating that “coups and dictatorships have no place in Nigeria’s future.”

Debo Adeniran, National Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, described any coup attempt as “a political misadventure,” noting that Nigerians had outgrown the era of military interventions.

Ordinary citizens have also voiced their support for democracy on social media, with many warning against any attempt to destabilise the country.

A Facebook user, Ofili Onwugbenu, wrote, “Anything like a military coup d’état at this delicate time will signal the end of Nigeria as a country.” Another user, Tolulope Adelaja, stated, “Coup plot in 2025? Those days are gone. This government is fixing the economy and strengthening the military — no going back to the dark ages.”

While authorities continue to investigate the matter, the general consensus across political, legal, and civil spaces remains clear: Nigeria’s democracy, though imperfect, must be protected at all costs.

© AnchorNews 2025