The wives of several detained Nigerian military officers have described months of distress following the arrest of their husbands over an alleged coup plot, according to a report by The Punch.
The arrests were first announced on October 4, 2025, when the Defence Headquarters confirmed that 16 senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force were in custody for alleged violations of military regulations. Authorities initially presented the matter as an internal issue, but subsequent investigations suggested a more serious allegation involving a suspected coup plan.
The probe reportedly uncovered claims of a covert network of officers accused of planning to target strategic locations, including the Presidential Villa, military facilities and major airports, with a tentative strike date set for October 25, 2025. The alleged plot was also said to involve plans against top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Months after their detention, the officers are still being held, with families expressing concerns over restricted access, inconsistent updates and the lack of a clear judicial process. Some of their children recently staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of their fathers.
Meanwhile, the wives of the detained officers, including Nana, Shafa’atu and Farida, were said to be grappling with fear, stigma and uncertainty, as they recalled the circumstances leading to the arrests and continued to await clarity on their husbands’ fate.
Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, a civil servant and businesswoman married to Lt. Col. M. A. Al-Makura, said her husband had been in detention for about seven months over an alleged coup plot against the President.
She explained that her husband previously served in Abuja as the commanding officer of the 197th Battalion, while she lived in town with their children due to schooling, as he stayed in the barracks and only visited home occasionally, usually on weekends.
According to her, on the week of his arrest, he was expected home on a Friday, but they had not spoken that morning. She said that around noon, she received a call from one of his soldiers, who asked if she was at home, a call that later preceded his arrest.
She said, “He then informed me that his oga was invited to the army headquarters for “something that came up urgently.” He came back home and said he was invited again around 7 am or 8 am the following morning. Due to the nature of his work, I don’t usually call him.
“It’s when he’s free that he calls me. That morning, he simply told me that he was invited to the office. He left his men outside and went into where he was summoned.
“After some hours, he came out himself and told them to take his bag home and to tell me that he would be coming home from the headquarters after whatever meeting he was invited to. They brought me his laptop bag and some other items. Unknown to him, he was never coming home.”
Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, a civil servant and businesswoman married to Lt. Col. M. A. Al-Makura, further recounted that on the day of her husband’s arrest, soldiers from his unit later informed her that unusual activity had been observed at the barracks, with confusion and murmurs following his invitation to headquarters and his sudden replacement as commanding officer.
She said the development created panic among his men, who travelled to headquarters to confirm what was happening, only to be told that a new commanding officer had already taken over while her husband remained at the headquarters. According to her, this prompted further concern, as his subordinates informed her that something appeared to be wrong.
She explained that she initially believed it was a routine redeployment, but became increasingly anxious as he failed to return or respond to calls and messages for several hours. She added that she also contacted his brother in the military, who confirmed awareness of the situation but could not provide clarity at the time.
Shafa’atu said that was the last time she heard from him, as subsequent efforts by the family and their lawyer to see him were unsuccessful. She noted that the experience left her unable to sleep, as she struggled to understand what could have led to his arrest, insisting that he had never been involved in any disciplinary issue throughout his military career……See More
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