Former governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has reportedly fled Nigeria.
Chief Sylva reportedly fled over his alleged connection with a coup d’etat plotted for October 1, 2025, the day of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Sylva’s move followed investigations conducted on soldiers arrested in relation to the coup plot, who pointed him as their sponsor.
The military raid led to the arrest of his brother, identified as Paga.
So far, the military has detained some 16 senior military officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force over the plot.
The officers are, according to reports, held incommunicado for about three weeks in an undisclosed facility in Abuja.
The alleged coup plot is currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Sources had revealed that a special military team struck Sylva’s residence in Maitama, Abuja, early hours of Tuesday.
A source cited intelligence reports linking Sylva to secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers involved in the coup plot.
Security personnel also raided former governor’s house in Bayelsa State in search of his whereabouts and evidence.
“The Nigerian Army special team ransacked the home of Timipre Sylva, who is believed to have fled Nigeria.
“He is the South-South former governor frequently mentioned in the case.
“His brother, Paga, was picked up during the raid,” the source told Sahara Reporters news media.
The media also quoted a security insider as alluding to “credible intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters”.
Earlier DDM reports
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) had reported on October 18, 2025, that the Nigerian Armed Forces detained 16 senior military officers.
Forces detained the officers, ranging from Captain to Brigadier General, over allegations of plotting a coup to overthrow Tinubu’s government.
Reacting to the reports, however, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) refuted the claims linking the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary parade to any military coup plot.
The military, in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, clarified on the the detention of the officers.
Brigadier General Gusau linked the detention of the officers to “repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation”.
The statement called the reports false, misleading, and designed to incite unnecessary tension.
Gusau further clarified that the decision to cancel the Independence Day parade was purely administrative.
He explained that the decision will allow Tinubu to attend a critical bilateral meeting abroad.
That will also enable military personnel to focus on ongoing operations against terrorism, insurgency, and banditry.
Gusau emphasized that the allegations of a coup attempt were entirely false and to create distrust among Nigerians.
Tinubu sacks service chiefs
However, in a drastic move that, according to observers, lent credence to the coup rumour, Tinubu sacked service chiefs and made changes in the hierarchy of the military leadership.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, disclosed the development in a State House press release dated October 24, 2025.
According to Mr. Dare, the move was in furtherance of the president’s efforts to strengthen national security architecture.
Dare noted that Tinubu appointed new ones in their stead with immediate effect.
According to the statement, Tinubu appointed General Olufemi Oluyede, a fellow Yoruba, to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.
