Nigerian Air Chief Denounces Coup Plot Against President Tinubu, 16 Officials Arrested

Air Marshal Sundai Kelvin Anek, the Chief of Air Staff in Nigeria, has denounced an alleged coup plot aimed at overthrowing President Tinubu, vowing that the perpetrators will be prosecuted. The Defence Headquarters confirmed the illegal plan to oust the administration.

Sixteen officials have been arrested and detained for their involvement in the coup plot. The military aims to arraign the indicted officials before a military judicial panel.

This incident comes amidst a broader shake-up in Nigeria's security leadership, with President Tinubu replacing the country's service chiefs in October 2025 to address escalating insecurity. The coup attempt is part of a concerning trend in Africa, with Guinea-Bissau experiencing a military takeover in November 2025.

Adamu Garba, a former presidential aspirant from the Progress Congress (APC), has expressed confidence that the coup plan will fail and democracy will be restored. Umaro Sissoco Embalo was detained in Guinea-Bissau during a similar military seizure.