Sowore, wives of detained military officers protest in Abuja, demand trial or release over alleged coup plot

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and the wives of detained Nigerian military officers on Friday staged a protest in Abuja, calling on authorities to either formally charge the officers over the alleged coup plot against the Federal Government or release them.

The protest comes amid mounting concern over the continued detention of several officers accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to reports, the Nigerian Armed Forces detained at least 16 senior officers following the alleged coup plot.

The protesters, mostly women and relatives of the detained officers, gathered in the Federal Capital Territory carrying placards and demanding justice, transparency, and adherence to due process.

Sowore was joined at the protest by lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju, as the families appealed to the President to intervene and ensure that military authorities follow constitutional procedures in handling the case.

During a briefing at the protest ground, some of the emotional wives insisted they were not seeking special treatment but simply asking for justice.

“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 lamented that their families have lived in fear and uncertainty for more than five months without clear information about the fate of their husbands.

“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,” the families said.

They also accused authorities of subjecting the detained officers to what they described as “trial by media,” while their families continue to struggle with intimidation and lack of access to their detained relatives.

“Our husbands and fathers have served this country faithfully on the front lines, risking their lives in defence of Nigeria. Today, their families are left with fear, uncertainty, and unanswered questions,” they added.

The families 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 said the narrative later changed, with reports indicating that $835 million was found in a company account rather than in the personal account of any officer.

They also questioned the shifting explanations 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.

The families maintained that if investigations have been concluded, as previously suggested by military authorities, then the appropriate step should be to begin 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 reasonable doubt. But if they are innocent, justice demands that they be set free,” they said.

They also appealed to the Nigerian military to grant them access to the detained officers.

“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’ arrest first surfaced in January 2026.

Although the military initially described the arrests as related to disciplinary issues such as failure in promotion examinations and breaches of service regulations, security sources later linked the detentions to a suspected plot to topple the government.

Authorities also claimed the suspected plotters had compiled a list of high-profile targets.

Following investigations reportedly carried out by security agencies, including 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, also known as a court-martial, where they could be formally tried.

As of the time of filing this report, the military authorities had yet to issue an official response to the latest protest by the families.