By Joy Yesufu
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), has disclosed that he was among the key targets of the recently foiled coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, the Defence Minister revealed that the plotters had planned to arrest him and shoot him if he resisted.
“I was also a target. I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” Musa said.
He described those behind the alleged plot as “very unserious individuals,” adding that their actions reflected a grave misjudgment of Nigeria’s democratic evolution and the capacity of its armed forces.
According to him, anyone who attempts a coup does so with full awareness of the risks involved. “Anybody who goes into a coup zeroes his mind. If he succeeds, fine. If he doesn’t, he must be ready to face the consequences,” he stated.
The Defence Minister dismissed any suggestion that the suspects posed a real threat to the Nigerian state, noting that their ambitions were unrealistic given the professionalism and strength of the armed forces.
“If you look at the calibre of the individuals involved, it is difficult to understand what made them believe they could take on the Nigerian Armed Forces,” he added.
Musa’s comment comes amid heightened security vigilance following the reported disruption of the alleged plot, reinforcing the government’s stance on safeguarding democratic governance and national stability.
