Alleged Coup: Families Of Detained Military Officers Storm National Assembly, Demand Open Trial

Families of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot against the Tinubu Government, have staged a protest on Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, calling for transparency and due process in the handling of the case.

The demonstrators, mostly wives and children of the detained suspects, gathered in the nation’s capital, Abuja, expressing growing concern over the prolonged detention of their bread-winners without formal charges or public trial.

The protest came amid reports that at least 16 senior officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces were arrested in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Carrying placards and chanting slogans, the protesters urged the Federal Government and military authorities to either charge the detained officers in a court of law or release them. Some of the placards read: “ Innocent Until proven guilty — Or does it not apply ?”, “Detention without trial is wickedness,” “Don’t kill our daddies,, Hear their side first,” and “Try them in courts, not in secret cells.” Others warned, “We are watching, the world is watching.”

The arrests, which took place in 2025, reportedly followed intelligence reports of a conspiracy among some military officers and civilians. While authorities have not publicly disclosed full details of the alleged plot, security analysts noted that such detentions were typically handled under strict military protocols, often shielded from public scrutiny due to national security implications.

However, the lack of official communication and the continued detention of the suspects without trial have raised concerns among civil society groups and legal experts, who argued that even in matters of national security, the rule of law must be upheld.

Nigeria has a history of military interventions in politics, with the last successful coup taking place decades ago before the country’s return to democratic rule in 1999. Since then, successive governments have maintained a zero-tolerance stance on any form of unconstitutional takeover of power.

As of press time, neither the Nigerian military authorities nor the presidency had issued an official statement addressing the protest or providing updates on the status of the detained officers.