The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), has explained why the Nigerian military initially denied reports of an attempted coup against President Bola Tinubu. He said the armed forces chose caution because issues related to coups are extremely sensitive and can cause panic if handled carelessly.

Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Musa noted that once the word “coup” is mentioned, suspects often go into hiding. According to him, the military needed time to quietly verify facts and gather solid intelligence before making any public statement. He stressed that rushing to confirm such claims without evidence could be dangerous.

The Defence Minister added that the military did not want to contradict itself by making premature announcements. He explained that it was better to initially dismiss the claims than to later reverse an official position, which could undermine public trust and national stability.

It will be recalled that reports of a coup plot surfaced in late September 2025. However, on January 26, the Defence Headquarters officially confirmed the plot, citing joint intelligence from the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), bringing clarity to the issue.