Relatives of the 16 military officers detained for allegedly attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are appealing to the Presidency and relevant authorities for leniency, as reported by Weekend Trust.
These family members are contacting influential political and government figures to urge the president to show mercy.
Weekend Trust previously reported that at least 16 military officers were indicted in a report submitted to the president following the coup attempt.
According to retired senior military officials, these officers are awaiting a court martial.
This situation arose after the military high command announced that the officers, who have been in custody since October 2025, were found guilty of the charges.
Reports from last October indicated that officers, from the rank of Captain to Brigadier-General, were arrested and held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for their involvement in the plot against Tinubu’s administration.
In an exclusive interview with Weekend Trust last night, a family member of one of the Majors expressed the need to explore various options, including political avenues, to address the situation.
“We understand the seriousness of the offense under military and national laws, but these individuals are our loved ones, and we cannot afford to lose them.
They are the primary earners for their families. We appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to show mercy.
He is a father figure to us all. We ask him to exercise compassion. We are not suggesting they should escape punishment, but we do not want them to face death at this time,” he stated.
Another family member, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed their shock upon learning that their sons were detained in connection with the coup plot.
He stated, “At first, we believed they were wrongfully detained, but based on the information we are receiving, our only course of action now is to reach out to the Nigerian populace. Esteemed president, please pardon our sons; dear Nigerians, please show them mercy.
“If for no other reason, many of their children are still quite young. We ask for your forgiveness. We trust that they have learned from this experience.”
In addition, security analyst Abdullahi Garba urged for a transparent and just trial for the detained officers by the military hierarchy.
“It is essential to conduct an open and fair trial for these individuals, to avoid any appearance of victimization, especially since many of them come from the same region of the country,” the analyst remarked.
Meanwhile, Major Bashir Galma (retd), who participated in the 1983 coup, referred to coup attempts as a “hazardous endeavor,” stating, “It is indeed a risky undertaking.
Every job has its inherent dangers. We were fortunate. We executed it successfully. That was on December 31, 1983.
“We were involved in the takeover of that government in Kaduna. At that time, I held the rank of army Captain.
“It was a Friday night – December 30 at midnight – which coincidentally was December 31, my birthday – we were all prepared and assigned our respective duties.
“My specific task was to seize control of broadcasting stations and telecommunication networks in Kaduna,” the elderly man recounted.
The detained personnel include a Brigadier-General, a Colonel, four Lieutenant Colonels, five Majors, two Captains, a Lieutenant, a Lieutenant Commander from the Navy (equivalent to a Major), and a Squadron Leader from the Air Force.
Records indicate that 12 out of the 14 army officers are from the Infantry Corps, the army’s primary combat unit, which mainly engages in ground warfare.
One officer is affiliated with the Signals Corps, responsible for military communications, while another is part of the Ordnance Corps, which handles the procurement, storage, and maintenance of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other critical equipment.
Brigadier-General Musa Abubakar Sadiq, with service number N/10321, was born on January 3, 1974.
He underwent training as a cadet at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) from August 14, 1992, to September 20, 1997.
As a member of Regular Course 44, Sadiq, a native of Nasarawa State, advanced through the ranks, achieving the rank of Colonel in 2015 and Brigadier four years later. He is part of the Infantry Corps.
Among his various assignments, he served as the commander of the 3rd Brigade in Kano and as the garrison commander of the 81 Division of the Army in Lagos.
Colonel M.A. Ma’aji, with service number N/10668, was born on March 1, 1976.
The Nupe native from Niger State began his training on August 18, 1995, and completed it on September 16, 2000.
Investigators suspect he played a significant role as a strategist in the alleged coup plot, although this claim remains unverified.
Ma’aji, a member of the Infantry Corps, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2013 and was promoted to Colonel four years later.
At 49 years old, he served as the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion of the Nigerian Army located in Okitipupa, Ondo State.
He participated in Operation Crocodile Smile II, a military exercise by the Nigerian Army in 2017 aimed at tackling security issues in the Niger Delta and parts of the South-West.
Additionally, he worked at the Depot of the Nigerian Army and later commanded Operation Delta Safe.
He is an alumnus of the 47 Regular Course of the NDA.
Lt Colonel S. Bappah, who is part of the Nigerian Army Signals Corps with service number N/13036, is from Bauchi State in the North-East and was born on June 21, 1984.
The 41-year-old officer began his cadet training on September 27, 2004, and completed it on October 4, 2008, as a member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA.
Lt Colonel A.A. Hayatu, with service number N/13038, is from Kaduna State and was born on August 13, 1983.
He also completed his cadet training from September 27, 2004, to October 4, 2008, as part of the 56 Regular Course and is an Infantry Corps member.
Dangnap, born on April 1, 1986, is from Plateau State and was court-martialed in 2015 along with 29 others for offenses related to the fight against Boko Haram.
The 39-year-old officer, with service number N/13025, started his cadet training on September 27, 2004, and finished on October 4, 2008, as an Infantry Corps officer and member of the 56 Regular Course of the NDA.
Lt Colonel M. Al-Makura, also a member of the 56 Regular Course, is from Nasarawa State and was born on March 18, 1983.
He trained as a cadet at the NDA from September 27, 2004, to October 4, 2008, and has the service number N/12983.
Major A. J Ibrahim, with service number N/13065, is from Gombe State and was born on June 12, 1987.
He trained between September 27, 2004, and October 4, 2008, as an Infantry Corps officer and became a Captain in 2013.
Major M.M. Jiddah, born on July 9, 1985, is from Katsina State and trained from September 27, 2004, to October 4, 2008.
He is an Infantry Army officer with service number N/13003 and a member of the 56 Regular Course.
Major M.A. Usman, a Nigerian Army major with service number N/15404, was born on April 1, 1989, and is from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He is part of the 60th Regular Course and trained as a cadet at the NDA from August 16, 2008, to September 14, 2012.
Major D. Yusuf, born on May 26, 1988, is a member of the Ordnance Corps and trained at the NDA from July 7, 2007, to September 8, 2012, as part of the 59th Regular Course.
He has the service number N/14753 and is from Gombe State. Major I. Dauda, who joined the army through the Direct Short Service Commission, was born on November 26, 1983.
He is an Infantry officer with service number N/13625 and trained from June 5, 2009, to March 27, 2010.
Dauda is from Jigawa and is a member of Short Service Commission, Course 38.
The remaining officers, whose information is limited, include Captain Ibrahim Bello, a member of the Direct Short Service Commission, Course 43, with service number N/16266, born on July 28, 1987; Captain A. A Yusuf with service number N/16724; Lieutenant S.S Felix with service number N/18105; Lieutenant Commander D. B. Abdullahi, a naval officer with service number NN/3289; and Squadron S. B Adamu, an Air Force squadron leader with service number NAF/3481.
(Source: Daily Trust)
