Families of detained officers in alleged coup against President Tinubu accuse military of rights violations

Families of military officers detained over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu have accused the Nigerian military of torture, human rights abuses and lack of transparency in the ongoing court-martial process.

The allegations were made on Friday during a press briefing in Abuja by Aishatu Yusufu, spokesperson for the wives of the detained officers, who said the families were compelled to speak out over what they described as suppression of information surrounding the case.

Yusufu said the families, while respectful of the military institution, were deeply concerned about the treatment of their relatives who have remained in detention for about nine months.

“We are family members, wives and children of detained officers accused of a coup plot. We are not politicians; we are not anarchists; we are only law-abiding citizens compelled to speak out,” she said.

“We love our country, we respect the military and its laws, but we are deeply afraid for our loved ones. We are speaking now because we believe the truth is being suppressed.”

She alleged that the detained officers and their families have been subjected to intimidation, prolonged isolation and denial of access to legal counsel and family visits for more than 180 days.

According to her, some of the detainees have developed health complications, including deteriorating eyesight and respiratory conditions, as a result of what she described as prolonged confinement in underground detention facilities.

“We and our loved ones have been tortured, oppressed, suppressed, traumatised, humiliated, tormented and bullied,” Yusufu said.

“We and their lawyers were not allowed to see them for over 180 days, despite our countless appeals. We have not been given full medical reports, even though some of our relatives have visible injuries.”

She further alleged that the officers were denied access to legal representation and family members during interrogation and were brought before the court-martial in handcuffs and leg chains.

The families insisted that they were not challenging the judicial process or seeking to determine guilt or innocence but were demanding fairness, transparency and respect for due process.

“We are asking for transparency,” Yusufu said.

The families called on military authorities to open the proceedings to the media and public, allow independent and international human rights observers to monitor the trial, and permit independent medical examinations of the detainees.

“We call on the military authorities to allow international human rights observers to attend the trial, make the court proceedings open to the public and the media, and allow independent medical doctors to examine our relatives,” she said.

Yusufu also urged the international community to closely monitor the proceedings, insisting that justice must be seen not only in the verdict but also in the conduct of the trial.

“The military should show irrefutable evidence. If there is nothing to hide, they should show everything,” she said.

“We will continue to speak peacefully and lawfully.”

The Federal Government had filed a 13-count charge against six security officers and a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, over an alleged plot to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration.

The charges, which include treason, terrorism and financing of terrorism, stem from allegations that a coup plot was uncovered following the arrest of several military officers in October 2025.

Those facing trial include Sylva; retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana; retired Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor; Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim; Zekeri Umoru; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani.