Detained Coup Suspects Facing Severe Health Issues in Custody, Families Allege

Relatives of military officers being held over an alleged coup plot have raised alarms over the deteriorating health and welfare of their detained family members.

At a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the families claimed that months of confinement have left several of the accused officers suffering from physical injuries, failing eyesight, and severe respiratory issues.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Aisha Yusuf stated that the detainees and their loved ones have faced deep emotional trauma and uncertainty since their arrests roughly nine months ago. Yusuf clarified that while the families respect military authority and are not looking to disrupt the judicial process, they are deeply concerned by a critical lack of transparency surrounding the ongoing court-martial.

According to the relatives, access to the officers is heavily restricted, with families and legal counsel permitted only one visit per week. Furthermore, Yusuf alleged that the accused were denied legal or family representation while making their statements, and have not been granted access to their full medical histories despite showing clear signs of illness.

“They have not been given full medical reports, even though some of them have visible injuries,” Yusuf said. “Many are losing their eyesight and having lung issues due to their long stay in underground facilities with no ventilation.”

The families also condemned the use of hand and leg chains on the officers during their Court Martial appearances, describing it as an open degradation of their human dignity. They called on military authorities to open the trial to the public and the media, permit international human rights observers to attend, and allow independent doctors to evaluate the detainees.

Corroborating these concerns, Shafa’atu Ali Agbo, wife of Lt. Col. M.A. Al-Makura, noted that a large number of the accused are facing medical complications, adding that army medical personnel had already recommended prescription glasses for some of them.

Aisha Nana Usman, wife of Lt. Col. Sadiq Mohammed, added that the officers remain shackled even while eating, arguing that men who put their lives on the line for the country deserve humane treatment.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who attended the briefing, urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and ensure the constitutional rights of the detainees are protected, emphasizing that all accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty under Nigerian law. Adeyanju also urged the federal government to grant the families’ requests to bring in independent medical practitioners to assess the officers.

As of the time of reporting, military authorities have not issued an official response to the allegations. Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, for clarification were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.