Nigeria’s defence authorities have detailed why they initially denied reports of a foiled coup attempt before confirming the plot months later. The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), stated the military needed to be absolutely certain before informing the public.

General Musa spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunday Politics’. He explained that allegations of a coup are extremely serious, and the military required time to investigate and gather solid facts.

“We wanted to be sure,” Musa said. He described the plot as an act of indiscipline that began subtly. The full details only emerged during a formal investigation involving the army, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

The Minister emphasized that the military did not want to give conflicting reports to the nation. “It’s better we say no for now until we find out after investigation,” he stated, highlighting the need for a direct and verified account.

The alleged plan to remove President Bola Tinubu was reported to have occurred in late September 2025. However, it was not until January 26 of this year that the Defence Headquarters officially confirmed the plot, citing joint intelligence.

This explanation ends months of public speculation, clarifying the military’s cautious process before announcing a threat of such magnitude to the country’s democracy.