Nigeria has formally charged six individuals with treason in connection with an alleged coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu last October, marking the start of judicial proceedings in a case that has drawn significant attention across the region. The accused include a combination of former military officers and civilians, among them retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a former senior military commander.

The charges, filed on Monday, represent the first group to be formally indicted among more than a dozen people believed to be involved in the plot. Alongside these six defendants, former state governor and oil minister Timipre Sylva is also implicated in the court documents but remains at large. Sylva faces similar charges of treason and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. His spokesperson has previously stated that Sylva was in Britain for medical treatment.

This alleged coup attempt has taken place against the backdrop of a turbulent period in West Africa, where multiple countries in the Sahel region have experienced coups or coup attempts in recent years. Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation, has a history of military takeovers, particularly during the latter half of the 20th century, before transitioning to civilian rule in 1999.

The prosecution appears to be focusing on the civilians and retired officers implicated in the October plot, while active-duty soldiers believed to be involved are set to face separate military court trials. Among those named as key players is Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, who was assigned to the office of the National Security Adviser. The court filings reference meetings tied to alleged acts of terrorism and cite financial transactions involving some of the accused, though they do not provide a comprehensive account of how the plot unfolded.

Rumors of a failed coup attempt emerged last October after Nigeria cancelled its Independence Day military parade in Abuja. At that time, the Defense Headquarters announced the arrest of 16 military officers for professional misconduct but described it as a routine disciplinary measure. In January, however, military spokesman Major General Samaila Uba revealed that the probe had uncovered efforts by some of those officers to overthrow the government.

Public outcry has followed the detentions, with family members of the accused soldiers staging protests in Abuja. Demonstrators, including children carrying placards reading “Our daddies are not coupists” and “Try them in court, not in secret cells,” called for transparency and due process. Some wives of detained officers appeared on national television, expressing their frustration over the prolonged detention without trial and voicing hope for exoneration. One, Shafa’atu Almakura, referenced former military leaders Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, both of whom had seized power in coups before later becoming democratically elected presidents.

Since taking office in 2023, President Tinubu has adopted a firm stance against coup attempts in the region. In December, Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) played critical roles in thwarting a coup effort in the neighboring country of Benin, reaffirming Nigeria’s position as a leading force in regional stability and security.