By John Umeh
Nigeria’s security and intelligence community has been thrown into high alert following reports that military investigators are interrogating a Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South-South region over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reliable security sources told The PUNCH that the embattled MD was taken into custody after investigators traced a large financial transfer from his agency’s account to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva. The funds are suspected to have been meant for the financing of a coup attempt.
Two senior intelligence officers confirmed the arrest, noting that the investigators are “working on a strong theory” linking the fund transfer to a broader plan to forcibly remove the Tinubu administration.
“The MD transferred a huge sum of money to Sylva. Investigators are probing the transaction as part of a wider plot to finance the coup. He is currently being questioned to explain the purpose of the payment and his relationship with those involved,” a top military source revealed.
Raid on Sylva’s Abuja Residence
The former Bayelsa State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who served as Minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has also come under intense scrutiny.
According to insider reports, military operatives raided Sylva’s Abuja residence on Saturday, arresting his younger brother, Paga Sylva, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, as well as his driver. Sylva, however, was not at home during the operation.
“He (Sylva) was outside the country when the raid took place. Upon learning that the suspected coup plotters had been arrested, he reportedly suspended his planned return to Nigeria,” another security source disclosed.
The development has further heightened tension within the nation’s political class, with several security agencies reportedly collaborating to uncover the full network of individuals linked to the alleged conspiracy.
Military Authorities Maintain Silence
Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, were unsuccessful as both officers declined to take calls or respond to inquiries from reporters.
Earlier this month, Brig-Gen Gusau had issued a statement confirming the arrest of 16 officers for “acts of indiscipline and breaches of military regulations,” though he did not explicitly mention any coup plot.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a routine military exercise resulted in the arrest of sixteen officers over issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” the statement read in part.
“Investigations have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations.”
Conflicting Accounts and Rising Suspicion
However, online platform SaharaReporters offered a different narrative, alleging that the detained officers — from the ranks of Captain to Brigadier General — were being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Tinubu and other top government officials.
According to the report, the arrests were carried out simultaneously across different parts of the country in what appeared to be a coordinated crackdown on suspected conspirators within the military.
“The 16 officers were planning a coup. The military authorities were just being diplomatic in their official statement. They had already begun holding secret meetings to discuss plans to remove the current government,” an unnamed source was quoted as saying.
Nation on Edge
While the Defence Headquarters has not formally commented on the new allegations involving the federal agency MD and Chief Sylva, the development has raised fresh concerns about loyalty and stability within Nigeria’s security structure.
Analysts warn that if confirmed, the plot would mark one of the most serious threats to Nigeria’s democracy since the country’s return to civilian rule in 1999. Security experts are now urging transparency in the ongoing investigation to avoid public panic and misinformation.
For now, the Federal Government and the military remain tight-lipped as investigators continue to trace financial transactions and communications linked to the alleged plotters.
The unfolding situation underscores the growing tension within Nigeria’s political and military establishment — a reminder that the quest to protect democracy in Africa’s largest nation remains a delicate balancing act between security vigilance and political trust.
