A retired senior military officer has revealed that Nigeria’s armed forces were caught off guard by the attempted coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking on Arise Television, retired Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka-Usman, a former Director of Army Public Relations, disclosed that both the military and the wider Nigerian society were stunned by the development.
According to him, the incident was unexpected, especially considering Nigeria’s 26 uninterrupted years of democratic rule and the internal reforms the military has undergone over the past decade and a half.
“The military has gone through about 15 years of transformation, adapting to democratic norms and civil-military relations,” Usman explained. “So yes, both the military and society were taken aback by the situation, and that explains the level of concern it generated.”
He noted that investigations have since clarified the matter, stressing that the Defence Headquarters’ recent update confirmed acts of indiscipline, breach of service regulations, and an attempt to overthrow democratic governance.
Usman added that the armed forces now clearly understand the need to stay aligned with democratic values and public expectations.
“The military now realises the importance of being on the same page with the Nigerian people,” he said, noting that an enlightened and informed society makes governance easier and more participatory.
The retired general maintained that the issue has been addressed internally and that the military remains committed to democracy, discipline, and constitutional order—sending a strong signal that coup politics has no place in today’s Nigeria.
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