Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, the wife of Colonel M. A. Al-Makura, has shared details of the events that led to her husband’s detention following allegations of involvement in a purported coup plot against the president.
Speaking during an interview with Punch Newspapers, Agbo recounted how the situation unfolded on the day her husband was taken away, providing an account that sheds light on the sequence of events preceding the arrest of the senior military officer who was serving as a commanding officer at the time.
Her statement adds to a growing number of accounts from relatives of officers reportedly implicated in the alleged coup plot, and it reflects the confusion, fear, and lack of transparency that families are experiencing as they try to understand what their loved ones are accused of and when or if they will be released.
Describing the incident, Agbo said: “Around 12 noon, I got a call from one of his soldiers being that he is the commanding officer. One of his boys called me to ask if I was home and I told him, yes, I was home. When he came, he told me that Oga was invited to the army headquarters for something urgently that came up.” According to her, the message initially appeared routine, as official summons to army headquarters were not unusual given her husband’s position as a commanding officer. The use of the word “urgently” suggested that whatever the matter was, it required immediate attention, but there was no indication that it involved accusations of treason, coup plotting, or any criminal conduct.
What began as what seemed like a standard military engagement soon turned into a prolonged absence, raising concerns about Colonel Al-Makura’s safety and status. Agbo suggested that there was no prior indication that the invitation would result in detention, leaving the family unprepared for the developments that followed.
The transition from a routine summons to indefinite detention without formal charges, access to legal representation, or communication with family is a pattern that has been repeated across the cases of multiple officers allegedly involved in the coup plot, and it raises serious questions about due process, the rights of the accused, and the transparency of the investigation.
The lack of communication from authorities is one of the most distressing aspects of the situation for families like Agbo’s. She and others do not know what their husbands, fathers, or sons are accused of in specific terms, what evidence has been presented against them, or whether they will be tried in military or civilian courts.
The uncertainty is compounded by the fact that coup plotting is one of the most serious offences a military officer can be charged with, and the penalties, if convicted, can include life imprisonment or death. The stakes are as high as they can be, and the families are being kept in the dark about the process, the timeline, and the options available to defend their loved ones…See More
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