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BREAKING: Soldiers Raid Ex-Governor, Timipre Sylva’s Abuja Home Over Alleged Coup Plot

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Armed personnel of the Nigerian Army have reportedly stormed the Abuja residence of former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, over an alleged link to a coup plot currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to multiple security sources, the operation was carried out by a special military team in the early hours of Tuesday at Sylva’s residence in Maitama, Abuja.

 

It was gathered that the raid followed intelligence reports linking the former governor to a series of secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

A top security source familiar with the development disclosed that the operation also extended to Sylva’s Bayelsa home, where his brother, identified as Paga, was arrested.

“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 revealed.

According to Sahara Reporters, Another security insider confirmed that while no official statement had been issued by the military, the raid was not random but followed what was described as “credible intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters.”

This latest development comes amid heightening tension within the Armed Forces following revelations that at least 16 senior military officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force had been detained by the DIA in connection with the same plot.

The officers have reportedly been held incommunicado for over three weeks in an undisclosed facility in Abuja. Families of the detained officers initially feared their relatives had been kidnapped due to the absence of official communication from the military.

“It’s been 18 days since those 16 officers were detained in an undisclosed location. At first, we thought our brother was kidnapped before finding out what transpired from his friend who works in the NSA office,” a family member said.

Security analysts have expressed concern over the DIA’s central role in the probe, noting that such investigations are usually handled internally by the respective military services. Some have described the situation as politically motivated.

“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?” a retired senior officer questioned. “This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”

Speculation is rife that the alleged plot and arrests may have deeper political undertones involving individuals linked to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Timipre Sylva, a close ally of the late ex-President, served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023. He was also the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2023 Bayelsa State election, which he lost to Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As of press time, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Defence Headquarters had issued an official statement on the raid or the former minister’s whereabouts.

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Nigerian Army arrests woman supplying arms to wanted terrorist Bello Turji

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Army has apprehended a 25-year-old woman, Shamsiyya Ahadu, who is accused of supplying arms and ammunition to notorious terrorist leader Bello Turji.

Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Sunday, December 29.

He said Ahadu, along with her accomplice, Ahmed Husaini, a motorcyclist, was captured in the Badarawa area of Shinkafi Local Government Area on December 28.

According to him, troops reportedly seized 764 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and six magazines intended for delivery to Turji’s camp.

He noted that the operation, conducted by troops of Sector 2 Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, was based on intelligence regarding terrorist logistics movements between Kware and Badarawa communities,a dding that both suspects are under investigation.

Turji, a notorious terrorist operating in Zamfara and neighbouring states, had recently threatened reprisals following arrests of his suspected associates, claiming they were innocent community members.

The army expressed gratitude for public support and urged citizens to continue providing credible intelligence to help eliminate terrorist activities in the region.

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700,000 Litres of Stolen Petrol Seized as Army Launch Anti-Theft Operations

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Army has announced that it seized 700,000 litres of stolen petrol products in its anti-theft operation conducted between October of r 28 and November 3.

The announcement was made by the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Sunday, November 3, the division’s spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah said the operations also resulted in the deactivation of 29 illegal refineries.

He added that the division also arrested 24 suspected oil thieves and destroyed 14 boats used in crude oil theft.

According to Jonah, 150,000 litres of stolen crude were recovered in the Kula area of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State while in sites in Kay and Abesa in Akuku-Toru LGA, 50,000 litres were seized.

In the same site, three illegal refining sites were dismantled, and cooking pots containing 20,000 litres of stolen diesel were confiscated.

Also, another 400,000 litres of illegally refined diesel were recovered.

In Bayelsa, storage tanks holding 2,500 litres of stolen crude were recovered in Boma Creek, 4,500 litres of stolen crude, while another 3,000 litres of illicit product were seized at West Boma Creek.

Recoveries were also made in Alwa Ibom Local Government Areas among others, the Army added.

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Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Leading Reporters
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Fake News: Lagbaja not dead, says Army

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Army has debunked the rumour flying around on the purported death of General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff.

The rumour, which has since gone viral, started after a tweet from Jackson Ude, former presidential aide and social media commentator.

“CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DIES OF CANCER The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has died. Lagbaja died in an undisclosed hospital overseas nearly 48hrs ago from a stage three Cancer, according to a senior Government official.

The death of the Chief of Army staff has been kept secret because of intense lobbying by some Generals who want to take the position. Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, as the 27th Chief of Army Staff,” Ude had tweeted at exactly 12:49pm.

But the Nigerian Army, which has consistently denied reports on the alleged ailment of the General, stamped Ude’s tweet with FAKE NEWS on X.

On Saturday, Onyema Nwachukwu, Army spokesman, dismissed media reports suggesting that there is leadership vacuum following the absence of Lagbaja, saying he is on official leave, and necessary protocols had been put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on his behalf during his absence.

Nwachukwu, a major general, emphasised that Lagbaja’s absence is not affecting the operations of the service.

“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS while he was away.

“This is not peculiar to the NA, as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence. Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA at present are therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course.”

The army spokesman said all routine and scheduled activities of the service are on course, adding that the appropriate departmental chiefs are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS directives.

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Bandit kingpin, Bello Turji seizes Nigerian Army’s vehicles, ammunition during operation [VIDEO]

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Videos have surfaced online of bandit kingpin, Bello Turji and his gang celebrating taking over the Nigerian Army Armoured Personnel Carrier.

Turji and his gang also took over lots of ammunition from the Nigerian Army during the seizure of the carrier.

This was confirmed by a counterinsurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, ZagaZola Makama.

Makama said a distress report was received by the troops indicating a high-level meeting of bandits at a specified location within the Bello Turji camp.

Responding, a team of troops was swiftly deployed to the area, led by a young officer but the team’s vehicle became stuck in the marshy terrain, hindering their advance.

Makama disclosed that the troops came under intense fire from the bandits, which triggered a heavy gunfire that lasted for some hours.

Makama said a distress report was received by the troops indicating a high-level meeting of bandits at a specified location within the Bello Turji camp.

Responding, a team of troops was swiftly deployed to the area, led by a young officer but the team’s vehicle became stuck in the marshy terrain, hindering their advance.

Makama disclosed that the troops came under intense fire from the bandits, which triggered a heavy gunfire that lasted for some hours.

“Due to the weather conditions (heavy rain), throughout the day, air support was unable to arrive promptly, allowing the bandits to reinforce their position.

“The troops attempted to use the other MRAP to pull out the other one but it got stuck in the mud too.

“Another team of troops were reinforced to the scene but before their arrival, the situation became overwhelming for those holding the ground as they could not pull out their two MRAPS.

The troops withdrew, leaving behind the vehicles. No fatality was recorded in the encounter.

“Hours later, Turji and his boys appeared in the scene shooting in the sky and screaming that they dislodged the troops and took their vehicles.”

The Nigerian Army is yet to confirm the development.

Watch video below:

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“We’re on standby” – Army reacts to Kano emirate tussle

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Army has reacted to reports by some media platforms that its men were directly involved in the ongoing Kano emirate tussle.

The news, Leading reporters understands, emanated from the Kano state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

On Thursday, a Federal High Court in Kano issued an ex-parte order, preventing Governor Abba Yusuf from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The court also halted the implementation of a new law that abolished the four emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.

Despite the court order, Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Sanusi as Emir of Kano, arguing that the judge who issued the order was not physically present in Nigeria to issue it.

Some news platforms then reported that the Army had been used in enforcing the court order to prevent Sanusi from being reinstalled.

In a statement by its spokesperson Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army denied any involvement in the tussle.

Nwachukwu noted that the army’s only role was to ensure that there was no breach in security.

“Contrary to insinuations by the Kano state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association as published by Premium Times on 26 May 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army have not been involved in the Kano state emirate tussle and are not involved in enforcing any court order,” he said.

“They have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the Kano Emirship tussle.

“The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors.”

The military said it would intervene when it becomes apparent that the intensity of the security situation becomes overwhelming for the police.

“All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the state and the region in general.”

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Nigerian Army reacts to attack on soldiers at banex plaza, reveals next line of action

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Army has reacted to the attack on some soldiers by hoodlums at Banex Plaza in Abuja.

Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, in a statement today, described the physical attack on the soldiers as a ”threat to national security.”

He, however, revealed that the Nigerian Army authorities have kick-started investigations into the incident.

Part of the statement read: ”It is important to note that the soldiers attacked were unarmed, did not engage in any form of aggression, and posed no threat to anyone. Therefore, the cruel treatment meted out to them was entirely unwarranted and unjustifiable.

”In response to this unfortunate incident, a meeting was convened with the management of Banex Plaza to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous act by temporarily shutting down activities in the plaza to ensure that the hoodlums who have been using the Banex neighbourhood as a sanctuary to pose a security threat to the Federal Capital Territory were apprehended.

”This, is in furtherance of the need for extensive investigation to be conducted at the scene to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of this mayhem.

”This investigation ultimately aims at ensuring the security of the Federal Capital Territory and to prevent such unwarranted attacks on own personnel and other security operatives, as has been observed in other areas, such as the unfortunate attack in Okuama.

”The Nigerian Army will equally ensure that it diligently investigates the circumstances surrounding the presence of the personnel at the plaza and the attack that ensued.

”Nonetheless, such acts of violence against personnel are not only condemnable but could degenerate to a breakdown of law and order, orchestrating threats to national security.

”Accordingly, the NA enjoins members of the public to exercise caution and restraint in dealing with military personnel and other security operatives, especially when they are in uniform.

”There are established channels through which grievances or misconduct by personnel could be reported to the appropriate authorities. It is imperative that these channels are utilized to maintain order and respect for those who serve and protect our nation.”

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