SaharaReporters has learned exclusively that Nigerian Army personnel conducted a raid on the Abuja residence of Timipre Sylva, former Governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, in connection with an ongoing coup plot investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Multiple security sources confirmed on Tuesday that the raid took place at Sylva’s home in the Maitama district of Abuja. According to insiders, a “special military team” carried out the operation following intelligence that linked the former South-South governor to clandestine meetings with some detained military officers implicated in the alleged coup plot.
A top security source revealed, “The Nigerian Army special team ransacked Sylva’s residence. He is believed to have fled the country. During the raid, his brother, Paga Sylva, was arrested. The operation also targeted Sylva’s residence in Bayelsa State.”
Another source emphasized that the raid was deliberate, stating, “This was not a random action; it was a direct response to intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters.”
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of heightened tension within Nigeria’s armed forces after SaharaReporters exclusively reported the detention of at least 16 senior military officers by the DIA over an alleged coup attempt. These officers, spanning the Army, Navy, and Air Force, have been held incommunicado for over three weeks at an undisclosed location in Abuja under reportedly suspicious conditions.
Family members of the detained officers initially feared abduction due to the prolonged lack of official communication. One relative shared, “It’s been 18 days since their detention. Initially, we thought our brother was kidnapped until a friend working at the NSA office informed us of the arrest.”
Security analysts have raised concerns about the DIA leading the investigation rather than internal military disciplinary units. A retired military official questioned, “If this were a routine disciplinary matter, thousands of cases would have surfaced. Why are only 16 officers involved, and why is the DIA handling it? This hints at political motivations.”
Speculation is mounting that the alleged coup plot and related arrests may have significant political undertones, implicating former government officials linked to the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Timipre Sylva, widely regarded as a close ally of Buhari, served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023 and was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State’s November 2023 election, which he lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses. SaharaReporters will continue to monitor and update on this developing story.
