Family members of the 16 detained military officers who were accused of being involved in the plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are pleading for leniency.
According to Belllnews, family members are reaching out to top politicians and government functionaries at the seat of power, begging that justice be meted out with mercy.
No fewer than 16 military officers were said to have been indicted in a report submitted to the president after the coup plot.
According to retired senior military officers, the officers are awaiting court-martial.
The development came after the military high command said that the officers, who have been in detention since October 2025, were found guilty of the offence.
In an interview with the aforementioned publication, a family member of one of the Majors said they had to explore different options, including political solutions to resolve the issue.
“We know the offence is grave considering the military laws and laws of the land, but these people are our loved ones, we can’t afford to lose them now. In fact, they are breadwinners to their respective families.
“We want to use this medium to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to temper justice with mercy.
“He is our father; he is a father of the nation. We beg him to show mercy to them. We are not saying they shouldn’t be punished, but we don’t want their death now,” he said.
Another family member who also spoke anonymously said they were shocked hearing that their sons were detained over a coup plot.
He said, “Initially, we thought they were detained unjustly, but with what we are hearing, all we need now is to appeal to the Nigerian people. Dear president, forgive our sons; dear Nigerians, forgive them.
“If not for anything, the children of some of them are still young. Please forgive us. We believe they must have learnt their lessons.”