Army Raids Timipre Sylva’s Homes Amid Alleged Coup Plot, Raising Questions About Political Motives

In a dramatic escalation of Nigeria’s ongoing security and political crisis, Nigerian Army personnel reportedly raided the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in connection with an alleged coup plot currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to multiple security sources, a “special military team” carried out the operation at Sylva’s home in the exclusive Maitama district, and extended the raid to his Bayelsa residence. One insider told SaharaReporters that Sylva “is believed to have fled Nigeria”, while his brother, Paga Sylva, was detained during the operation.

The raid comes amid growing public concern over the detention of at least 16 senior military officers, reportedly held incommunicado by the DIA for over three weeks. Sources describe the arrests as taking place under “unusual and suspicious conditions,” prompting family members to initially fear their loved ones had been kidnapped.

The fact that the DIA, an intelligence agency under the Ministry of Defence, is leading the investigation rather than the individual branches of the military has raised eyebrows among analysts and retired officers. One retired officer remarked:

“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? This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”

Sources suggest that the alleged plot may have deep political undertones, potentially involving former officeholders with links to the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Sylva himself, a close Buhari ally, was Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023, and contested the 2023 Bayelsa governorship election under the APC, losing to incumbent Douye Diri of the PDP.

The events underscore a troubling trend in Nigeria, where intelligence and security agencies are increasingly used as tools of political maneuvering, rather than strictly for national security. The targeting of former officials and selected military officers raises questions about whether this alleged coup plot is a matter of genuine national concern or a convenient pretext for settling political scores.

As tensions rise within the armed forces, the public is left watching a high-stakes game of power, privilege, and political vendetta, while key figures like Sylva remain elusive and official narratives remain murky.

The unfolding situation in Abuja and Bayelsa is likely to dominate Nigeria’s political discourse in the coming weeks, especially as questions mount over the transparency and legality of the DIA-led detentions.