Six People Charged in Plan to Take Over Nigeria's Government
Introduction
On 1 October 2025, the government cancelled Nigeria's Independence Day party. No one said why. Now, court papers show it was because of a plan to take over the government. This week, the government charged six people with serious crimes like treason and terrorism.
Main Body
The plan was for 1 October. The government stopped it. In January 2026, the army said 16 officers would face a court. Then, prosecutors named six civilians. They said 'not guilty'. The trial will show more details. A man named Colonel Mohammed Ma'aji is the main planner. He worked in the oil area. He knew a former governor, Timipre Sylva. The government did not charge Sylva, but court papers say he gave money for the plan. Sylva's spokesman says it is not true. The plan was to attack the president's house on 1 October. They had help from a worker inside. They wanted to catch the president and other leaders. They bought cars. The government knew about the plan and stopped it before the day. Some of the charged people are a religious leader and a movie actor. The religious leader went free after a court order, but the police arrested him again. The actor worked to make people support the plan. The actors' group cannot find him.
Conclusion
This is the most serious plan to take over the government since 1999. The trial will show more. Some people say this is a bad sign because other countries in West Africa have had army takeovers.