Military coup detention sparks emotional protest as families demand trial or release of detained officers held over alleged plot in Nigeria
Military Coup Detention Sparks Emotional Protest as scores of children and wives of detained Nigerian military officers on Wednesday staged a peaceful demonstration at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, demanding either a speedy trial or the release of their relatives held over an alleged coup plot.
The protesters arrived at the entrance of the National Assembly in a slow procession, holding placards with emotional messages including “Don’t Kill Our Daddies” and “Detention Without Trial is Injustice.” The demonstration drew attention to the prolonged detention of officers accused of involvement in an alleged coup conspiracy.
Tears flowed freely as children of the detained officers pleaded for justice and access to their fathers, many of whom they said had been in custody for several months without contact.
Eight-year-old Halima Mohammed, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Almakura, made an emotional appeal, saying her family’s life had been shattered since her father’s arrest. She urged authorities not to harm him and called for justice.
Nine-year-old Ibrahim Bala, son of Major Bala, also expressed deep anguish, stating he had not seen his father for months and missed his guidance and companionship at home.
Four-year-old Fatima Yusuf, daughter of a Wing Commander, made a direct appeal to national leaders, pleading for the safe return of her father and describing the emotional void left in her life.
Eleven-year-old Nana Aisha Usman urged the government to either release the officers or arraign them in court, insisting that justice must be served transparently.
She called for an open trial, stressing that the prolonged detention without charges had left families in distress and uncertainty.
A spouse of one of the detained officers, Nana Ibrahim, also criticised the handling of the case, describing the situation as questionable and demanding transparency in the investigation process.
She said the families were not being allowed access to the detained officers or legal representatives, despite claims that investigations had been concluded.
The emotional protest follows earlier appeals by families who had called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure either the release or formal arraignment of the officers.
The officers were first detained in October 2025 over alleged breaches of military regulations and suspected involvement in a wider conspiracy linked to a planned coup.
According to earlier findings, the alleged plot reportedly involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa and major military installations in Abuja.
The ongoing Military Coup Detention Sparks Emotional Protest continues to raise public concern over due process, human rights, and transparency in the handling of high-profile military detentions.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
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