- Safiu Kehinde
The children and relatives of the 16 military officers detained over alleged coup plot have again taken to the street in protest over the detention of the officers.
NPO Reported that the former Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, had in October 4, 2025, announced the arrest of 16 officers for breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the officers coordinated by an Army colonel had begun planned to embark on a military coup on the 25th of October with senior government officials, including Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, allegedly target.
Those reported to be in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, and Maj M. M. Jiddah.
Others include Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
With the officers still held in detention without trial, their children would on Wednesday stage a protest demanding access to their father while pleading for them not to be killed.
The children, in a video shared on X, carried placards containing different inscriptions/
Some of the inscriptions read; “Don’t kill our Daddies, hear their side first”, “Try them in court, not in secret cells”, and “Innocent until proven guilty, or does it not apply?”.
Others include; “We are watching. The world is watching”, “Parents are dying without goodbyes”, “Democracy must be felt, not spoken”, “Why mercy for terrorists but cruelty for them?”, and “Charge them to court or what are you hiding?”
The children further demanded justice for their fathers while the wives of the military officers could be heard charging the children to say that their fathers are not coup plotters.
Meanwhile, the women had last month held a press conference where they pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to grant them access to their husbands while demanding open trial for the hearing of their case.
They further appealed directly to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, urging her to intervene in the matter.
The women however held that the families are not seeking favours but demanding adherence to constitutional rights.