More than twenty hours after reports surfaced that soldiers of the Nigerian Army allegedly raided the residences of Timipre Sylva, former minister of state for petroleum resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, in Abuja and Bayelsa, military authorities have yet to comment on the matter.
The operation, which reportedly took place in the early hours of Saturday, has fueled speculation about a wider investigation into an alleged coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
However, the military has denied any such plot, maintaining that the arrest of 16 officers was linked instead to internal disciplinary issues.
In a statement signed by Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the Armed Forces of Nigeria said the arrests resulted from a “routine internal exercise” addressing acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise has resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations. Investigations revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations,” the statement read.
The military did not, however, address the reports of the alleged raids on Sylva’s properties in Abuja and Bayelsa.
According to a widely circulated report, the alleged operation was carried out by a special military team at Sylva’s Maitama residence in Abuja, where some of his aides were reportedly taken into custody.
The same report claimed that another team raided his country home in Bayelsa, arresting Paga Sylva, his younger brother, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, along with his driver.
Security sources quoted in the reports alleged that intelligence gathered by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) connected Sylva to a series of secret meetings with some of the detained officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
At the time of the raids, the former minister, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was said to be outside the country.
Sources told newsmen that Sylva had initially planned to return to Nigeria but changed his mind upon learning of the arrests of several military personnel.
Fresh reports also indicate that security agencies are interrogating the Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South-South region over alleged financial links to the coup probe.
Two top intelligence officials reportedly confirmed that the agency chief was arrested for allegedly transferring a large sum of money to Sylva.
“The MD (name withheld) transferred a huge sum of money to Sylva. Investigators are working on the theory that the fund transfer was connected to the coup.
He is presently answering questions about what the money was meant for,” one senior intelligence source was quoted as saying.
Some insiders within the military establishment have expressed skepticism about the official explanation offered by the Defence Headquarters.
One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested that the arrests might have deeper political undertones.
“If the military were truly conducting a disciplinary operation, over 10,000 cases could emerge.
“Why only sixteen officers, and why hand them over to the DIA? This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes,” the source said.
Contrary to the Defence Headquarters’ denial of a coup plot, reports claimed that the detained officers, whose ranks reportedly range from Captain to Brigadier General were being held by the DIA for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in the statement released by the spokesperson.
“They have started holding secret meetings on how to overthrow the President and other top government officials,” an unnamed official was quoted as saying.
As of the time of filling this report, the Defence Headquarters had yet to issue a statement addressing the alleged raids on Sylva’s residences or the reported interrogation of the agency chief.
