Families of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot have demanded proof that their husbands are still alive, urging authorities to either charge them in court or release those found innocent.
The appeal was made by Shafatu Al-Makura, a representative of the wives of the detained officers, during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday.
Al-Makura said the families have not had any contact with the detained officers since their arrest and are increasingly worried about their well-being.
“Our biggest concern is we want to have a proof of life. We want to be assured that they are still alive,” she said.
According to her, the families have made several attempts to reach the authorities but have received no response.
She further stated, “We’ve not been given any explanation to that. And we’ve written severally to the appropriate authorities; we’ve written to the Defence Intelligence Agency, we’ve written to the Department for Civil-Military Affairs, we’ve written to virtually every necessary authority, but nothing has been done.
“We’ve not been granted the access yet, and there’s not been any explanation as to why that is so.”
Al-Makura stressed that the families were not seeking special treatment but simply asking for transparency and due process.
She said, “Our major concern is that if they are found guilty, or whatever the outcome of the investigation is, let them be charged to court.
“Whoever is found guilty should be dealt with appropriately, and whoever is found innocent should be freed. So that is our plea.”
In late 2025, Nigerian military intelligence uncovered an alleged coup plot, leading to the arrest of at least 16 military officers, ranging from captains to a brigadier general.
The officers were taken into custody in October 2025 by the Defence Intelligence Agency following investigations into the alleged plot.
In April 2026, wives and children of the detained officers staged a protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding proof that their husbands were alive and calling on authorities to either prosecute or release them.
