Children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.
The protesters, carrying placards with messages such as “Release Our Daddies,” “Don’t Kill Our Fathers,” and “Six Months of Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” demanded the immediate release or prompt trial of their fathers.
The officers were arrested in October 2025 over alleged involvement in a planned coup and breaches of military regulations. They have remained in detention for more than 160 days without being charged or granted access to their families.
Among the young protesters were:Eight-year-old Halima Mohammed, daughter of Lt. Col. Mohammed Almakura, who said: “Please don’t kill our daddy. We want justice for him. Since he was arrested, our lives have not been the same again. My mummy cries every day. I really miss him so much.”
Nine-year-old Ibrahim Bala, son of Major Bala: “Let the government bring my daddy back safely. The last time I saw him was nine months ago. I really miss him with all my heart… Our house has been lonely without him.”
Four-year-old Fatima Yusuf, daughter of Wing Commander Yusuf: “I want to beg the president and our First Lady to bring my daddy safely back. Since he left, I have no one to play with.”
Eleven-year-old Nana Aisha Usman: “Please help us beg the government to release my daddy or take him to court… I don’t think my dad is a bad person. He never meant harm to anybody.”
One of the wives, Nana Ibrahim, described the coup allegations as suspicious and called for transparency.“The whole coup allegation and arrest are shady. If they have any evidence about their involvement, they should come out with it boldly… They should take them to court and come out with the evidence. We want an open trial… Enough is enough!” she said.
The protest came about a month after the families publicly appealed to President Bola Tinubu for access to their detained husbands and for justice.
The detained officers include senior ranks such as Brig. Gen. M. A. Sadiq and several Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, Captains, and other personnel.
The families are demanding that the government either charge the officers in court with concrete evidence or release them immediately, noting that the prolonged detention without trial has caused severe emotional and financial hardship on their households.
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