ABUJA, Nigeria — The wife and four children of a Nigerian Army corporal have told a military court that they were detained for 21 days after security operatives raided their home in search of their father over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
Fatima Sadi Audu, the wife of Corporal Momoh Audu, and her son, Suleiman Audu, described their detention while giving evidence at a court-martial hearing connected to the alleged coup plot.
Their testimony, reported by SaharaReporters on Monday, September 21, 2026, included allegations that the family was deprived of food, subjected to physical abuse, and denied release even after the authorities located the corporal.
The allegations have not been independently verified.
Family Taken From Home During Night Raid
Fatima told the court that security operatives arrived at the family’s residence late one night in October 2025 and demanded to see her husband.
When she informed them that he was not at home, the officers searched the property but failed to find him.
According to her testimony, the operatives subsequently ordered her and her four children — Suleiman, Abdullahi, Amina, and Mohammed — out of the house.
The family was taken in a military vehicle to a Military Police facility, where they were informed that they would be held in separate rooms.
Fatima said she repeatedly asked why she and her children were being detained but received no explanation beyond the authorities’ search for her husband.
She testified that the family remained in custody for 21 days, despite being informed after approximately one week that the corporal had been found.
“The children were meant to be in school. We were not released and [were] crying,” she told the court.
Son Alleges Assault and Denial of Medical Care
Suleiman, who told the court that he was 20 years old at the time of the incident, corroborated his mother’s account of the raid.
He testified that two men in civilian clothing entered the family’s home at approximately 11 p.m. and searched for his father before taking the family away.
According to Suleiman, the family was initially taken to 313 Barracks before being transferred to Military Police custody.
He said he was slapped after questioning why he and his relatives were being placed in detention.
“I asked what are we going to do inside cell. I was slapped, and they were looking for my father,” he testified.
Suleiman told the court that he and his brother, Abdullahi, were confined together while their mother and other siblings were held separately.
He alleged that they slept on the bare floor and experienced further physical abuse.
“We were tortured in that cell,” he said.
Suleiman also described becoming ill alongside his brother and requesting medical assistance.
He testified that military personnel handcuffed them and made them walk to a medical centre while their escorts travelled on motorcycles.
According to him, the brothers received treatment but were required to return to the detention facility on foot while still handcuffed.
Mother Says Family Went Four Days Without Food
Fatima alleged that the family was denied food and water during the first four days of their detention.
“We were there four days without food,” she testified.
She said neighbours eventually learnt of their detention and began providing meals.
According to Fatima, the authorities subsequently informed the family that money allocated for their feeding had been exhausted, leaving them dependent on assistance from their neighbours.
Suleiman also testified about the difficulties the family experienced obtaining food, saying that requests for meals were initially refused because feeding funds had not been provided.
He told the court that the family was prevented from receiving visitors without authorisation.
After approximately 20 days, he said, the authorities provided money for food and released the family the following morning.
Suleiman testified that his mother received ₦5,000 to assist with their journey home.
Testimony Forms Part of Alleged Coup Proceedings
During cross-examination, Fatima and Suleiman confirmed that neither had been present when Corporal Audu made his statement to investigators.
Fatima maintained that she had repeatedly requested the family’s release because she had committed no offence.
The court was informed that the testimony formed part of the proceedings involving the 33rd defendant.
The case is connected to an investigation into an alleged conspiracy involving military personnel and civilians to remove Tinubu from office.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters confirmed an investigation following the arrest of 16 military officers in late 2025, with related proceedings continuing into 2026.
The testimony reported from the court martial did not include a response from military authorities to the family’s allegations about their treatment in custody.
