Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and the wives of detained Nigerian military officers on Friday staged a protest in Abuja, demanding that the authorities either prosecute the officers over the alleged coup plot against the Federal Government or release them.
The demonstration comes amid rising concern over the continued detention of several officers accused of plotting to remove the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Reports indicate that the Nigerian Armed Forces detained at least 16 senior officers in connection with the alleged conspiracy.
The protesters, mostly women, assembled in the Federal Capital Territory carrying placards and calling on President Tinubu’s administration to intervene in the matter. Accompanied by Sowore and lawyer-activist Deji Adeyanju, the families urged the President to prevail on the military authorities to ensure due process in handling the case.
During a press briefing, the visibly emotional wives insisted that they were not seeking special treatment but justice and transparency regarding the fate of their husbands.
“We are not asking for a favour; we are asking for justice to be done. Charge our husbands to court if there is evidence, but if there is none, let them go free,” one of the wives said.
The women added that their families had endured months of uncertainty and distress.
“For more than five months, our families have lived with uncertainty, fear, and unanswered questions. Today, we are here for one simple reason: to ask that justice be done openly in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” they said.
“These past months have been deeply painful for our families. We have watched helplessly as narratives are presented to the public, subjecting our husbands to trial by media. At the same time, some of us have faced intimidation from the very men in uniform meant to protect Nigerians.”
They also lamented that the prolonged detention had left their families struggling with unanswered questions while the detained officers were subjected to what they described as “trial by media”.
“Our husbands and fathers have served this country faithfully on the front lines, risking their lives in defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Today, their families are left with fear, uncertainty, and unanswered questions,” they said.
The wives further raised concerns over what they described as inconsistencies in the allegations against the officers. According to them, the public was initially told that $12 billion had been discovered in the account of one of the officers.
However, they noted that the narrative later changed, with reports indicating that $835 million was found in a company account rather than in the personal account of any of the officers.
The families also questioned the shifting reasons given for the arrests.
“At first, the officers were reportedly arrested for indiscipline. Later, the allegation became conspiracy to commit a coup d’état. We respectfully ask what changed,” they said.
They argued that if investigations had indeed been concluded, as previously suggested by military authorities, the next step should be to commence trial proceedings in an open court.
“We do not want anything done secretly or through trial by media. If our husbands are guilty, let it be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. But if they are innocent, justice demands that they be set free,” they said.
The wives also appealed to the Nigerian military for compassion and transparency, urging authorities to allow them access to their detained relatives.
“Grant us access to our husbands. Let us see them and know that they are safe and alive,” the appeal read.
Reports of the officers’ arrests first emerged in January 2026. Although the military initially described the detentions as relating to disciplinary matters, including failure in promotion examinations and breaches of service regulations, security sources later indicated that the arrests were linked to a suspected attempt to topple the government.
Authorities also alleged that the suspected plotters compiled a list of high-profile targets.
Following investigations reportedly carried out by the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Department of State Services, the military confirmed in January 2026 that a coup plot had been uncovered.
The detained officers are expected to face a military judicial panel, known as a court-martial, where they could be formally tried. As of the time of filing this report, the military authorities had not issued an official response to the protest by the families.