In a chilling twist to Nigeria’s unfolding coup plot investigation, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Nigerian Army have extended their dragnet to high-profile political figures, culminating in a dramatic midnight raid on the Abuja residence of former Governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva. The operation, shrouded in secrecy, has ignited shockwaves through Nigeria’s political and security circles, deepening suspicions that the alleged coup probe may be more politically charged than publicly acknowledged.
According to multiple credible sources who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters, the raid was executed by a “special military operations team” acting under directives linked to the ongoing DIA-led investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The sources confirmed that Sylva’s brother, identified as Paga Sylva, was arrested during the raid and whisked away for interrogation, while the ex-minister himself was not found on the premises — prompting speculation that he may have fled the country days earlier after sensing an imminent crackdown.
The operation reportedly began just after midnight in Maitama, one of Abuja’s most affluent districts, where Sylva maintains a lavish mansion frequently used for political meetings and private engagements. Eyewitnesses described the raid as swift but tense, with fully armed soldiers arriving in four military trucks and sealing off the surrounding streets to prevent onlookers or interference.
“They arrived quietly but heavily armed,” said one eyewitness who requested anonymity. “They surrounded the entire street, cut off the CCTV feeds from nearby homes, and entered the compound. We could only hear muffled voices and doors being broken. About an hour later, they left with one man in handcuffs — his face covered — and several boxes, presumably containing documents or devices.”
A senior military intelligence source later confirmed that the items confiscated included several mobile phones, laptops, and documents believed to contain financial records and communication logs allegedly linking Sylva to some of the detained military officers accused of orchestrating the coup. “We have obtained significant digital evidence suggesting meetings and transfers between the former governor and the suspects,” the source stated. “This operation is part of a wider intelligence effort to identify civilian collaborators in the coup network.”
The DIA’s Expanding Web
The Defence Intelligence Agency, which reports directly to the Chief of Defence Staff and the Minister of Defence, has taken full control of the investigation — an unusual move that many security analysts interpret as a sign of political sensitivity. At least 16 senior officers, including a Brigadier-General, a Colonel, and several mid-ranking officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, have been detained incommunicado for over three weeks at a secret facility in Abuja.
What began as an internal disciplinary probe into “professional misconduct,” according to an official Defence Headquarters statement earlier this month, has rapidly evolved into what insiders now describe as “a politically charged national security operation” implicating retired politicians, businessmen, and even clerics.
Sources close to the DIA confirmed that intelligence reports had traced several encrypted communications between the detained officers and “a high-profile civilian contact” believed to be Sylva. The communications allegedly discussed “strategic political instability” and “post-Tinubu power realignment scenarios.” These exchanges, officials say, were what triggered the urgent authorization for the raid.
A top intelligence officer who spoke under condition of anonymity explained: “The directive was clear — secure all materials, arrest any individual in the premises, and determine if financial transactions were involved. Sylva’s political network, particularly within the Niger Delta, has long-standing connections to certain military and paramilitary units. That’s what raised red flags.”
A Familiar Name, A Controversial History
Timipre Sylva, 59, has been a central figure in Nigeria’s oil politics for nearly two decades. A former governor of Bayelsa State and one-time ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari, he served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023 — overseeing major oil sector reforms, but also facing allegations of corruption and favoritism. His tenure was marked by controversies over Nigeria’s OPEC compliance levels and fuel subsidy management.
After resigning to contest the November 2023 Bayelsa governorship election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sylva suffered a major political setback when he lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Many close observers say that defeat dealt a serious blow to Sylva’s political career and strained his relationship with key APC powerbrokers, including President Tinubu.
“It’s no secret that Sylva felt abandoned by the APC hierarchy during the Bayelsa election,” said a Bayelsa political insider familiar with the situation. “He lost money, influence, and access. Since then, he’s been bitter — quietly reaching out to other political factions and retired military figures to regain relevance. It’s possible that some of those contacts are now being misinterpreted as coup-related.”
The Coup Allegations
The alleged coup plot first surfaced in early October when Defence Headquarters issued a vague statement confirming that 16 officers had been arrested for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” At the time, the military insisted that there was “no coup attempt,” describing the arrests as part of an internal disciplinary process.
However, subsequent leaks to investigative journalists suggested a far more sinister dimension. Intelligence intercepts reportedly indicated that a small group of officers had discussed plans to “intervene” in national governance, citing worsening economic hardship, corruption, and leadership failure. The discussions, though speculative, were allegedly amplified by some civilian interlocutors — including businessmen, political operatives, and retired officials — who expressed sympathy for a “corrective transition.”
By the third week of October, it became evident that the DIA had widened its net, arresting several civilians and raiding properties in Abuja, Kaduna, and Bayelsa. Sylva’s name emerged prominently in intelligence reports as “a financial facilitator” of one of the detained officers who had served briefly as a security aide to a former minister in the Buhari administration.
Political Undercurrents and Denials
Despite the gravity of the allegations, no formal charges have been filed against Sylva or his detained brother. Attempts to reach Sylva’s known associates proved unsuccessful, though a family source described the raid as “politically motivated.” “This is not about any coup,” the source said. “It is a witch-hunt. They are using the DIA to settle political scores and silence those who don’t fall in line.”
Government officials, however, dismiss such claims. One senior defence spokesperson told reporters that “the operation is purely intelligence-driven and non-partisan,” insisting that the military is “protecting the nation’s democracy, not undermining it.” Yet, many observers find it curious that the raid occurred just days after media outlets linked some detained officers to “a former governor from the South-South” — a clear reference to Sylva.
“It’s part of a broader message,” noted Dr. Clement Nwokorie, a political scientist and security analyst based in Abuja. “The Tinubu administration wants to demonstrate that it will not tolerate any form of subversion. But the optics are messy. When you have high-profile raids, secrecy, and no formal communication, it raises suspicion that there’s more politics than law at play.”
Families in Distress
For the families of the detained officers, the ordeal has been traumatic. Several relatives told SaharaReporters that they only learned of the arrests through back channels, as neither the military nor the government has released an official list of detainees. “We just want to know if our sons are alive,” one distraught mother said. “We are being kept in the dark. Even their lawyers can’t access them.”
Human rights lawyers have also expressed concern, warning that the prolonged incommunicado detention of military personnel violates Nigeria’s Armed Forces Act and constitutional protections. Amnesty International has called for transparency, urging the military to “clarify the nature of the investigation and ensure humane treatment of all detainees.”
A Broader Crisis of Trust
This latest development underscores the fragile state of civil-military relations in Nigeria. The DIA’s unprecedented involvement, the arrest of serving officers, and now the targeting of a high-profile political figure have sparked debates about the military’s internal cohesion and the government’s handling of intelligence.
“There is deep distrust within the system,” said retired Colonel Lawal Adamu, a former intelligence officer. “Many within the ranks feel scapegoated, while political actors fear surveillance. The atmosphere is toxic. This is exactly how rumors of coups gain traction — when transparency disappears and suspicion thrives.”
Indeed, since the inception of Tinubu’s government in May 2023, Nigeria’s security landscape has been marred by kidnappings, banditry, and allegations of corruption within security agencies. Analysts suggest that the administration’s heavy-handed response to dissent, both within and outside the armed forces, could create the very instability it seeks to prevent.
The Road Ahead
As of now, neither the Defence Headquarters nor the Presidency has issued a formal statement acknowledging the raid on Sylva’s residence. The silence, analysts say, reflects the government’s dilemma: pursuing accountability without sparking political backlash.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Timipre Sylva remain unknown. While some sources insist he has fled to Europe through private means, others claim he is “in hiding within Nigeria,” awaiting legal counsel before making a public statement. His brother, Paga, remains in military custody as interrogations continue.
Whatever the final outcome, the raid has exposed the deep fissures between Nigeria’s political class and its security establishment. It also raises troubling questions about how far the government is willing to go in the name of national security — and whether the alleged coup plot is indeed real, or a symptom of growing political paranoia.
As the nation watches in uncertainty, one truth stands clear: in a democracy already tested by insecurity, economic hardship, and distrust, the boundary between safeguarding power and suppressing opposition has never been thinner.
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