Armed operatives 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 alleged links to an ongoing coup plot investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
According to multiple security sources, the early Tuesday morning raid was conducted by a special military team at Sylva’s Maitama home, following intelligence reports that allegedly connected the former minister to a series of covert meetings with some detained officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
A top security source confirmed that the operation also extended to Sylva’s country home in Bayelsa State, where his brother, identified as Paga Sylva, was reportedly 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 told reporters.
Although the military is yet to issue an official statement, another security insider disclosed that the operation was based on “credible intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters.”
The development comes amid growing unease within the Armed Forces, following reports that 16 senior military officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force have been detained by the DIA in connection with the same alleged coup plot. The officers have reportedly been held incommunicado for over three weeks in an undisclosed location in Abuja.
Family members of some of the detained officers expressed concern over their whereabouts, initially assuming they had been kidnapped.
“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,” one relative said.
Security analysts have raised questions over the DIA’s direct involvement, describing it as unusual since disciplinary investigations within the military are typically handled by the respective service branches. Some observers have suggested possible political motivations behind the arrests.
“If this were purely a disciplinary matter, there would be thousands of similar cases. Why only 16 officers, and why hand them to the DIA?” a retired military officer queried. “This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”
Speculation has intensified that the alleged coup investigation may have political undertones, involving figures linked to the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sylva, a close ally of the late former president, served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023 and was the APC governorship candidate in the November 2023 Bayelsa election, which he lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the PDP.
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army, the Defence Headquarters, nor Sylva’s associates have released an official comment regarding the raid or his current location.
