Armed personnel of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday 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 said to be under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The raid, which took place in the early hours at Sylva’s Maitama residence, was allegedly coordinated by operatives of the DIA following intelligence reports linking the former minister to a series of secret meetings with some detained senior military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
According to reports from Politics Nigeria and Daily Times, the military operation extended to Sylva’s residence in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where his younger brother, identified as “Paga,” was said to have been arrested and taken into custody.
Multiple security sources quoted in the reports alleged that the investigation has already led to the detention of at least 16 senior officers drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force, all currently held at the DIA headquarters in Abuja. The names and ranks of the officers have not been officially disclosed.
While details of the alleged coup plot remain sketchy, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the Nigerian Army have not issued any formal statement confirming or denying the raid, Sylva’s arrest, or his alleged involvement in the said plot. The silence from the military authorities has fueled public anxiety and widespread speculation about the nature and scale of the alleged conspiracy.
In a previous statement unrelated to the current development, the DHQ had dismissed similar reports of a coup plot as “routine disciplinary actions within the ranks,” insisting that no threat existed to Nigeria’s democracy. However, the renewed wave of arrests and the targeting of a high-profile political figure appear to have given the story a new dimension.
There are also unconfirmed reports suggesting that Chief Sylva may have left the country shortly after the raid, though this has not been independently verified. Efforts by journalists to reach his media aides have so far proved unsuccessful.
Analysts believe the incident underscores rising tension within Nigeria’s security architecture and the lingering distrust between civilian leadership and military structures. Some suggest that if true, the investigation could reveal deeper political undertones beyond a mere military affair.
For now, the facts remain clouded by uncertainty. What is known is that Sylva’s home was indeed raided by armed military personnel. What remains unconfirmed, however, is his alleged involvement in any coup plot, the veracity of the intelligence that led to the operation, and the current status of the detained officers.
Until the Defence Headquarters or the former minister himself issues an official statement, the situation remains fluid — leaving the public to speculate whether this is a case of national security enforcement or political power play.