Nigerian authorities have charged six individuals with terrorism and treason over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government, in a case linked to a foiled coup attempt uncovered in 2025.
The suspects, which include a retired major general and a serving police officer, appeared in court facing a 13-count charge, including accusations that they conspired to “levy war against the state” in an attempt to remove the president from power.
All six defendants have pleaded not guilty and have been held in custody for several months following their arrest by Nigeria’s secret police. A seventh suspect, a former state governor, remains at large and is accused of helping conceal the alleged plot.
The case stems from a coup attempt reportedly thwarted in January 2026, though investigations trace back to arrests of military personnel in 2025 amid suspicions of a broader conspiracy.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has not experienced a successful coup since its return to democratic rule in 1999, but recent instability and attempted coups across West Africa have raised concerns about regional security. The court is expected to hear bail applications in the coming days as proceedings continue.
