Nigeria, Feb. 1 -- Many Nigerians were caught between disbelief and confusion when news broke that a cleric, and later, a Nollywood actor was among those arrested in connection with an alleged coup plot. For a public accustomed to associating coups almost exclusively with soldiers and barracks politics, the involvement of figures from religion and entertainment unsettled familiar assumptions. The same question echoed across conversations and timelines: what possible role could such civilians play in a military conspiracy?



In reflecting on this matter, which has become a subject of national intrigue, I must first state clearly that I do not presume the guilt of any of the accused. I lack both the authority and the professional expertis...