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A group of officers in Nigeria are set to face a military court after being accused of “plotting to overthrow the government” of President Bola Tinubu last year, an armed forces’ statement has said.<\/p>\n
Sixteen officers were arrested last October after what were described as “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations”.<\/p>\n
At the time the military dismissed rumours of an attempted coup, but following an investigation, the authorities have acknowledged that some of the 16 will go before a military judicial panel.<\/p>\n
Nigeria has a complex history of military involvement in politics, with multiple coups between 1966 and 1993, which has made allegations of coup\u2011plotting highly sensitive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
It is not clear how many of the 16 will go on trial, but the military authorities said the process would ensure accountability and uphold “the principles of fairness and due process”.<\/p>\n
A statement added that trying to unseat the elected government was “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards” of the military.<\/p>\n
In recent years, concerns over instability, insecurity and public frustration have occasionally prompted rumours about dissent within the ranks – rumours the military has repeatedly dismissed.<\/p>\n
Nigeria has experienced a period of unbroken civilian rule since 1999. The armed forces have consistently stressed their loyalty to civilian authority, often issuing public statements reaffirming their commitment to democracy.<\/p>\n
This latest development comes at a time when the West African region has experienced a resurgence of coups. Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea have all seen their governments toppled by soldiers since the beginning of the decade. However, Guinea recently returned to a democratic rule with the junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya elected president.<\/p>\n
These events have created heightened vigilance among governments in the region, including Nigeria, which has traditionally positioned itself as a stabilising force within the regional grouping Ecowas.<\/p>\n
Within Nigeria, the military continues to face intense operational pressures – from fighting militant jihadist groups in the north-east to tackling criminals and communal violence across the north\u2011west and central states.<\/p>\n
Analysts say such pressures, combined with resource constraints and public scrutiny, have put the spotlight on discipline within the armed forces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n