Coup Attempt: I Was To Be Shot, says Defence Minister

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), says he was among those targeted by the officers who plotted to topple the government of President Bola Tinubu.

In October, there were reports that officers, ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General, were arrested and detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for attempting to overthrow Tinubu’s government.

Last week, Daily Trust had reported how the panel which probed the arrested officers submitted its findings to the president.

Subsequently, the military authorities which had consistently denied the reports of an attempted coup confirmed the story.

In a statement, the Director, Defence Information, Samaila Uba, a Major-General, said those with cases to answer would be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations.

Speaking about the incident on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the General who was sacked as Chief of Defence Staff shortly after the coup plot was foiled, said, “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.”

Several top government officials and other prominent leaders were allegedly pencilled to be killed in the coup attempt.

Commenting further, the minister said Nigerians would have fought against the coup plotters.

“I think these guys were a bunch of unserious individuals. If you look at the calibre of persons [involved in the attempted coup], I don’t know what got into their heads to think they can take on the Armed Forces like that.”

“What I even said is that even Nigerians would have fought them. Remember, Nigerians have fought against military rule for quite some time. Mr President has been one of them, so for them to wake up one morning and think they can do that in Nigeria, I think they need to reset their brain,” he said.

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