After weeks of denial, Armed personnel of the Nigerian Army have reportedly stormed the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, over an alleged link to a coup plot currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
According to multiple security sources, the operation was carried out by a special military team in the early hours of Tuesday at Sylva’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.
It was gathered that the raid followed intelligence reports linking the former governor to a series of secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
A top security source familiar with the development disclosed that the operation also extended to Sylva’s Bayelsa home, where his brother, identified as Paga, was arrested.
“The Nigerian Army special team ransacked the home of Timipre Sylva, who is believed to have fled Nigeria. He is the South-South former governor frequently mentioned in the case. His brother, Paga, was picked up during the raid,” the source revealed.
According to Sahara Reporters, Another security insider confirmed that while no official statement had been issued by the military, the raid was not random but followed what was described as “credible intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters.”
This latest development comes amid heightening tension within the Armed Forces following revelations that at least 16 senior military officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force had been detained by the DIA in connection with the same plot.
The officers have reportedly been held incommunicado for over three weeks in an undisclosed facility in Abuja. Families of the detained officers initially feared their relatives had been kidnapped due to the absence of official communication from the military.
“It’s been 18 days since those 16 officers were detained in an undisclosed location. At first, we thought our brother was kidnapped before finding out what transpired from his friend who works in the NSA office,” a family member said.
Security analysts have expressed concern over the DIA’s central role in the probe, noting that such investigations are usually handled internally by the respective military services. Some have described the situation as politically motivated.
“If the military were truly conducting a disciplinary operation, over 10,000 cases could emerge. Why only 16 officers, and why hand them to the DIA?” a retired senior officer questioned. “This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”
Speculation is rife that the alleged plot and arrests may have deeper political undertones involving individuals linked to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Timipre Sylva, a close ally of the late ex-President, served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023. He was also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2023 Bayelsa State election, which he lost to Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Defence Headquarters had issued an official statement on the raid or the former minister’s whereabouts.
