Fresh reports suggest that operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) recently raided the Abuja residence of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, in connection with an alleged coup plot. During the operation, his brother, identified as Paga Sylva, was reportedly arrested.

Sources disclosed that the raid followed preliminary intelligence linking certain political figures to a suspected plan to destabilize the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Unconfirmed reports allege that Mr. Sylva, who also served as Governor of Bayelsa State, may have fled Nigeria through the creeks to Senegal, with plans to travel further to Argentina where he is said to have business interests.

According to insider accounts, one of the first military officers arrested in connection with the alleged plot reportedly mentioned the former Minister’s name during interrogation. It was further claimed that investigators traced about ₦46 billion to an account purportedly linked to him.

Earlier, Sylva’s Bayelsa residence was also said to have been searched, where officials allegedly found large sums of cash in foreign denominations and documents believed to be of interest to the investigation.

Meanwhile, separate reports suggest that the Al-Makura family have allegedly sought spiritual help from marabouts following the detention of their son, a serving Lieutenant Colonel, also mentioned in connection with the same investigation.

There are also claims that Sylva had expressed anger over the re-election of Governor Douye Diri in Bayelsa, accusing his party, the APC, of not “playing the game” to secure his victory.

As of press time, neither the Defence Headquarters nor Sylva himself has issued an official statement regarding the allegations.

---