By Prosper Mene
Wives and family members of Nigerian military officers detained over an alleged coup plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration staged a public appeal and protest in Abuja on Friday, calling for immediate access to their husbands and an open, fair trial.
The families, supported by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, addressed the media and directly pleaded with President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to intervene. They described the emotional toll of the prolonged detention, which has exceeded 160 days in some cases, with no formal charges filed or family contact permitted.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the wives expressed deep anxiety over their husbands’ well-being and urged the authorities to either release the officers or bring them before a court of law in accordance with due process. They emphasized the presumption of innocence, stating that their husbands should not be treated as guilty until proven otherwise in an open trial.
“We appeal to Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a father and grandfather, and to Her Excellency the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a mother, grandmother, and revered pastor, to please look upon our situation with compassion, wisdom, courage, and justice,” one family representative said during the briefing.
The protest featured placards and emotional pleas, highlighting concerns that the detainees have been held incommunicado, raising questions about transparency and adherence to constitutional rights.
The alleged coup plot surfaced late last year, with reports indicating that 16 military officers were initially arrested in October for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.” Subsequent investigations by security agencies reportedly identified around 40 suspects, including senior officers from various branches of the armed forces, as well as some civilians linked to reconnaissance, funding, and propaganda efforts related to the conspiracy.
Military authorities have stated that some of the officers will face proceedings before a military judicial panel, though no public trial has commenced as of now.
No immediate response has been issued from the Presidency or the military high command regarding the families’ demands. The situation continues to draw attention to broader issues of military discipline, human rights, and governance in Nigeria.
