Family members of 16 military officers detained over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu have launched a desperate appeal to top politicians and government officials, urging that justice be tempered with mercy as the officers await court-martial.
Multiple sources confirmed that the officers have been in custody since October 2025 following investigations by the military high command into what was described as a grave breach of national security.
A report of the probe, it was learnt, has since been submitted to the President, indicting the suspects and recommending further disciplinary action under military law.
Retired senior officers familiar with the case disclosed that the affected personnel — including officers of the rank of Major and above — are currently being processed for court-martial, with some facing the prospect of the maximum penalty prescribed under the Armed Forces Act.
However, family members of the detainees have intensified lobbying efforts in Abuja, reaching out to influential politicians, senior government officials and military authorities in a bid to secure clemency.
One relative of a detained Major, who spoke anonymously, said the families were devastated by the development but pleaded for compassion, describing the officers as breadwinners whose absence has plunged their households into hardship.
“We know the offence is grave considering military laws and the laws of the land, but these people are our loved ones. We cannot afford to lose them,” the source said.
“We are appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to temper justice with mercy. He is a father to the nation. We are not saying they should not be punished, but we are begging that their lives be spared.”
Another family member said they were initially shocked by the arrests but had since resigned themselves to the reality of the allegations, opting instead to seek forgiveness on humanitarian grounds.
“At first, we thought they were unjustly detained, but with what we are hearing now, all we can do is appeal to Nigerians and to the President to forgive our sons,” the source said.
“Some of them have very young children who still need their fathers. We believe they must have learnt their lessons.”
The military authorities had earlier confirmed the arrests, insisting that due process was being followed and that the armed forces would not tolerate any action capable of undermining constitutional order or national stability.
Although details of the alleged plot remain largely classified, security sources said the case has heightened concerns within the defence establishment over loyalty, discipline and the need to reinforce safeguards against internal subversion.
As the court-martial process looms, the pleas from families underscore the human toll of the unfolding saga, even as the government faces growing pressure to balance justice, deterrence and compassion in handling one of the most sensitive security cases in recent years.
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