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‘I went to jail 40 times in six years’
This boldness and self-confidence are amazing. He talks tough in spite of his condition as a blind man. His glowing dark skin combines with the artificial gold teeth in his mouth to reinforce his self-assurance.
On his neck, a golden crucifix dangles on his branded white T-shirt on which T.H.U.G.G. is inscribed. But behind this flamboyant image of Bishop Renold Bell, an African-American, is a life of drug trafficking and addiction from which he transitioned into missionary activities.
He said: ”My name is Bishop Renold Bell. I want you to publish my story to the world that drugs or crime does not pay. I am now a motivational speaker going from communities to churches, preaching against the use of drugs.
“I am a musician and also a publisher. I have published some books, among which is T.H.UG.G Journey, where I wrote about my life. I have been to jail 40 times as a result of drug addiction, women battering, fighting, gun charges and many more.
”I was born on December 26, 1972 in New York, and I am the only child of my parents, Gerald Price and Miriam. I went into drugs early in life. My mother died at age 22 when I was barely six years old. She died from
alcohol consumption.
”It was my father who introduced my mother to alcohol. The two were alcoholics on the streets of Queens, New York. I did not know my father as such because since age 11, I have not seen him till now.
“The last time I saw my father was in 1984 during my grandmother’s funeral. What really shocked me was that when I saw my daddy walk through the church doors to pay respects to grandma, I didn’t know how he knew that she had passed away.
“He did not look clean like others and was smelling alcohol. That was the last time I saw him till this day. And do you know that my father did not know I was shot and now blind or that he has grandchildren? I suffer mentally and spend everyday thinking whether my father is alive or dead.”
Bell also spoke about his mother whom he said he only knew faintly, saying “When I was six years old, my grandmother asked whether I would attend a funeral where family and friends gathered to view the remains of someone who was never leaving this world and I might not see her again. She also said that that would be the last time I would see my mother.
“I was confused because I didn’t understand it was my mother whom I saw. She looked as if she was just sleeping, and that was the last time I would see her.”
Summarising his relationship with his parents, he said he didn’t know a lot about his younger life “except how they (parents) had me posted up at liquor stores. I would always see liquor bottles in my baby pic.”
Bell said he did not complete his high school. ”In fact, I had only six months to go, but I would rather hang out in the streets with my friends, drinking, smoking, and having a good time with the girls and selling drugs.
“I became Chris Bell, the ‘Stickup man’ as I continued my nefarious activities. In the beginning of April 1991, I held up a man on Calhoun Street, dug my hand into his pocket and asked him to give me his money and then fled to a friend’s place.
“The guy I held followed me. He called the police, who surrounded the house to prevent me from escaping. The lady of the house let them in, and they found 38 special guns in the house.
“But it wasn’t linked to me, because I never pulled out a gun to rob the man. But I went to jail for battery.
“At another time my friend Cedric and I robbed a drug house. But when we couldn’t find the drug money, we decided to take the two big concert speakers that I knew could bring some money. I sold the speakers.”
How I was shot in the eye at 18
Bell recalled how as an 18-year-old, his inebriated self requested his friend to shoot at him and he was shot in the eye.
He said: “I blame alcohol to this day as I allowed it to alter my mind and I asked my friend to shoot me.
“Alcohol is no one’s friend. And how stupid I was to get drunk on April 25, 1991 and asked a friend to shoot me.
”I was shot in the eye at age 18 over drugs money. We argued over the money realised from drug business, and the guy, Cedric, asked me for his own share of the money.
“I was drunk and laughing. I said to him, ‘Hold up! Don’t be fronting me like that. I’m going to pay you.’ But my friend hollered, ‘I’m going to get half of what you sold!’
“I declined and said I would give him twenty now and twenty later, after I had flipped the cocaine to make some more money.
“Already, I knew I was the get-paid man, so I already knew that he would agree to what I was saying. But he took offence to how I was going to break him off.
“In annoyance, he asked me to pack my clothes and my other stolen merchandise and leave his house just because I wouldn’t pay him at once. So I was upset, because he knew I had nowhere to go.
“So I said it’s like you want to shoot me or something, and he replied that it wasn’t a bad idea. I told him, ‘Then you can shoot me; get your gun and shoot me’.
”To my chagrin, my friend went into his room and brought out a 12-gauge pump shotgun. Then I said, ‘You really have a gun?’ He replied in the affirmative. I said, ‘Well, use it! Shoot me!’ and he pulled the trigger.
“But the gun was on safety. I yelled at him that my name is Chris Bell, I am not scared. Then I was 18 and he was 17. He pulled out the gun, I asked him to shoot me, and I heard gboooooo. That was 32 years ago.
“The next thing I remember was waking up at the hospital after six weeks in coma. Thereafter, I could not see anymore. I was in coma for six weeks and my head was swollen like a pumpkin. I thought I was going to die.
“When I woke up from coma and asked where I was and I was told what had happened to me, I began to recollect every detail of the story from friend to drug money and when I asked him to shoot me.”
Bell said he did not realise the severity of his blindness until he wanted to watch the Chicago Bull Championship game.
He said: ”On the day of Chicago Bull, Lisa, my pregnant wife, was in hospital room with me and I told her to turn on the television in order to watch the game, but she said the television was on.
“I told her to bring it closer because I couldn’t see it. She did, and I told her to tune into another channel, yet everything was totally dark.’’
Life as a blind man
He narrated how difficult it is to live without his sight, saying: ”Living with blindness was stressful and frustrating. I would wake up in the morning ready to eat when everybody was asleep. I became a burden.
“My family members were helping me to dress up. But I could eat on my own.”
Bell said he started eating bags of carrots, believing nutritionists who say that carrots can make one regain one’s sight.
”After a whole year of eating carrots with no signs of improvement, I removed carrots from my diet and started taking marijuana with the belief that I could regain my vision. But the marijuana didn’t last too long because all it did was to make me paranoid”
Asked what became of his friend who shot and blinded him, he said: ”The guy who shot me was 17 years old then. He went to jail but was later freed.
Asked whether he later met the man that shot him, Bell said he was on his way to Ozzie’s Club one day when he heard his friend’s voice calling him.
“The voice said, ‘Chris, come here’. The voice sounded so familiar. When I asked who was calling, the caller replied Cedric. It was the guy that shot me.
“We started chatting. “We drove to a liquor store and I bought a beer for him. We spent a couple of hours together but I didn’t bring up the shooting matter.
“But he told me that he was sentenced to 15 years but only served two and a half years.’’
I went to jail 40 times
When asked how many times Chris went to jail, he began by counting on his finger tips… ”91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96… I went to jail 40 times within six years.
“Before I got shot, I robbed a man. I saw him on the street, picked his pocket and started running. I was caught and jailed.
“I went to jail 40 times within six years before I met Christ; from misconduct and stealing to handgun and doing drugs. While I was blind,
I was still using a gun.
“I was thinking crazy. I had a gun and could shoot. If I heard your voice, I would target where the voice came from.
“I went to jail when I beat my girlfriend. I was crazy. Even when I was blind, I was still doing all those things: stealing, selling drugs
and fighting.
“The judge did not care whether I was blind. I never thought a blind man could go to jail but I went.”
My main message now is humility. Without humility, you cannot change your life. Accept Jesus Christ as your saviour.
“My message to everybody in the United States and Africa is humility. That is why I am sharing my story. I am now a motivational speaker, speaking the truth and realities of life.
The Bishop said he is married to a Ghanaian.
He said: ”My family is in Ghana. I married a lady who already had three children. I met the lady on Facebook. I went to Ghana to meet her and I will soon go back to Ghana to see my lover.”
Despite being blind, Bell did not stop committing crime.
He said: ”In 1992, I went to jail for punching a bouncer in the face at the club. I thought I would not be in trouble being a blind man, but I was wrong. I was charged to court and the Judge sentenced me to 60 days in the Allen County jail.
“But my 30 days among the criminals was hell as some of the inmates were serving 60 years in jail. There was fighting, yelling and a lot of criminal activities where they were locked up.
“When I left jail, I went into drug business again. I would wait till end of the month when I would collect Social Security cheque of 200 dollars in order to turn it to 400 dollars and hereby buy dope.
“But I got cheated because of my blindness, as they give me less than what I was supposed to make. I got ripped off… I stopped using pager because people would hear my voice.
“I put up with a sister whom I paid 150 dollars per month out of my 400. I was happy because I could sell dope and drink, so I didn’t need to talk to a pager and call or receive calls from customers.
“Here I met a lady named Vette, who became my girlfriend. Although I had a two-year-old son and she was three months pregnant with another man when I met her, that didn’t stop me from loving her. We loved each other.
”I went to jail again when two of my friends were fighting and a police was called but one of my friends handed a metal in my hands. When I felt what it was, it was a gun.
“I dropped it on the ground and it fell on our feet. The police arrested me over the gun, and since I had a bad reputation, I was charged and I went to jail again. The Judge gave me 90 days and a fine.
”When my old girlfriend Vette drove me around and I sold drugs, I kept the money with her. The following day, I found that she was spending the money I had given her with another man. I was mad.
“So I called Tommy, my cousin, to pick me up. I had a gun and my cousin was not aware. He took me to Vette to talk. I knocked on her door but she didn’t let me in. So I pulled out my gun and fired shots through the window.
“The police were looking for me everywhere, and I knew I had to leave Indiana.
“I started going to church because the only things that are hit in church are drums, clappings and beautiful voices and singing.
“In the church I narrated my story. I moved into my friend Terrance Cole’s place. He was once shot in the head with a .22 revolver that rendered him paralysed in his right hand and leg.
“My name became popular and my story made headlines in newspapers like ‘If you let me live , I’ll serve you’, Ex drug dealer is now blind THUGG IV Christ, Pavement pounding gives way to national TV spot’.
“I was featuring a once-in-a-month show called Examine Yourself Live. This time, I began to feel for Cedric who shot me. I started defending him when the media asked questions about him.
“I also went to the Judge to have him set free. Examine Yourself was hot that month because people didn’t want to see me help him. But I went as far as visiting him in jail for encouragement. I told him that I was on his side and that it was part of my project CPT (Change People Today).
“I did what I believed was right, and because of that, God, through my forgiveness, started opening more doors for me by giving me the chance to speak to communities and church groups”.
Credit: The Nation
The Federal Government has reiterated its strong commitment to safeguarding religious freedom and fostering a spirit of tolerance among its citizens.
This affirmation comes in the wake of a recent statement issued by the United States of America regarding the situation of religious freedoms in Nigeria.
In a comprehensive press release dated Saturday and signed by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government emphasized its unwavering resolve to combat the scourge of violent extremism that has affected various regions of the country. Mr. Ebienfa emphasized that this commitment is not only about enforcing laws but also about fostering an environment where diverse religious practices can coexist peacefully alongside one another.
Additionally, the statement expressed deep condolences for all individuals who have fallen victim to acts of violent extremism. The Federal Government underscored its ongoing support for the armed forces, reinforcing its commitment to collaborate closely with them in their endeavors to restore peace and security throughout Nigeria. The government remains dedicated to ensuring that all citizens can live without fear of violence or persecution based on their religious beliefs.
Mr. Ebienfa noted that like the United States, Nigeria values its diversity, which he described as the nation’s greatest strength.
The Foreign Affairs spokesperson also emphasised the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United States, expressing confidence that both nations will continue to work together in promoting peace, democracy, and global stability.
The statement reads, “The Federal Government has noted the recent statement by the United States of America on religious freedom in Nigeria. We remain committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism that is fuelled by special interests who have helped drive such decay and division in countries across the intersecting West African and Sahel regions.
“We mourn all the victims of violent extremism and salute our armed forces as they continue to fight against vicious but cowardly foes. The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion.
“Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength. Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order.
“The US has been – and we trust will always remain – a close ally, because the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will maintain our laser focus and steadfast commitment to all partners who believe in genuine peace, stability, freedom and democracy,” the statement concluded.
Military investigators probing the alleged attempted coup are working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit to unravel the financial flows linked to individuals accused of bankrolling the plot, according to The PUNCH.
This was as indications emerge that the bank accounts of some of the suspects might have been frozen by the authorities, as part of the probe procedures.
The PUNCH could not immediately confirm the development, as no one was willing to comment on it. But a security official described this as standard procedure in such cases.
However, multiple security sources familiar with the probe confirmed that the EFCC and NFIU are carrying out a forensic investigation on the bank accounts of the soldiers and the civilians involved in the plot to overthrow the Federal Government.
The forensic investigation will cover transaction analysis, including reviewing deposits, withdrawals, and transfers to identify suspicious patterns; tracking of account activity over time; identifying the origin of funds and determining the true owners of the accounts under probe.
The investigation is also said to have been widened to cover the associates and business partners of the key suspects.
The development is coming on the heels of the discovery of the alleged transfer of N45 billion from the Niger Delta Development Commission to those involved in the plot.
Sahara Reporters had reported that 16 Nigerian Army officers were arrested for allegedly planning a coup to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. The online platform linked the purported plot to the Federal Government’s cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration.
The Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, denied that the detention of the officers was tied to a coup attempt.
Nevertheless, security operatives raided the Abuja home of former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva, taking away his younger brother, Paga and driver, as the investigation gained momentum.
The former minister and All Progressives Congress chieftain was reportedly outside the country at the time.
On Wednesday, Sylva’s spokesman, Chief Julius Bokoru, confirmed that his principal’s residence was raided, adding that the ex-minister and his wife were out of the country at the time.
He denied the former governor’s involvement in the rumoured coup plot, accusing his political adversaries of trying to frame him.
Providing an update on Thursday, military insiders explained that the investigators are relying on the EFCC and NFIU to uncover the money trail and flow of funds deployed for the execution of the alleged coup.
Sources in the anti-graft agencies confirmed their involvement in the probe.
“This is discreet intelligence work. Until the entire exercise is concluded, we cannot provide a list of all those involved, how much was deployed for the plot or the amount recovered. The investigators are relying on the EFCC and NFIU for this,” a security source who is privy to the investigation disclosed.
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, could not be reached for comment on Thursday. His NFIU counterpart, Aishatu Bantam, did not respond to phone calls.
Meanwhile, the names of the 16 alleged coup plotters have surfaced.
The army officers include a brigadier general, a colonel, four lieutenant colonels, five majors, two captains, and a lieutenant.
The remaining two are a lieutenant commander from the Navy, the naval equivalent of a major, and a squadron leader from the Air Force, which holds the exact rank equivalence.
Premium Times reported that 12 of the 14 army officers belonged to the Infantry Corps, the army’s frontline combat unit whose troops primarily engage in ground battles.
One officer is reportedly from the Signals Corps, which manages military communications, while another serves in the Ordnance Corps, responsible for procuring, storing, and maintaining weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other essential hardware.
They were reportedly led by Brig. Gen Musa Abubakar Sadiq. Others include Col M.A. Ma’aji, Lt. Colonel S. Bappah, Lt Col A.A. Hayatu, P. Dangnap, Lt. Col M. Almakura, Major A. J Ibrahim, Major M.M. Jiddah, Major M.A. Usman, Major D. Yusuf, Major I. Dauda, Capt Ibrahim Bello, Capt A.A Yusuf, Lt S.S Felix, Lt . Commander D. B. Abdullahi and Squandron Leader S. B Adamu.
Meanwhile, The Cable reported that an air force officer recently posted to the Office of the National Security Adviser was detailed to kill the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Accoring to The Cable, Squadron Leader SB Adamu (Service No. NAF/3481) from Jigawa State was posted to the National Counter Terrorism Centre — an agency under ONSA — about four weeks before the coup attempt was uncovered.
Contrary to claims that several suspects worked directly with ONSA, investigators said Adamu was the only one connected to the office through the NCTC.
Military insiders said when the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj-Gen. Adamu Laka,requested the posting of a specific officer to the centre in August 2025, the request was surprisingly turned down. Instead, Adamu was deployed — a move now fuelling suspicions that the alleged coup plotters may have penetrated the military hierarchy.
Adamu is a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s Regular Course 59.
Recent investigations have uncovered additional information regarding a coup plot, shedding light on various troubling details.
This alarming revelation raises serious concerns about the integrity of national security. It highlights the extent to which the plotters may have been willing to go in their efforts to destabilize the government.
According to sources knowledgeable about the ongoing inquiry into this alleged conspiracy, an air force officer who has recently been assigned to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was allegedly tasked with the assassination of Nuhu Ribadu, the current National Security Adviser, according to TheCable.
The implications of these findings could be profound, potentially affecting both national security operations and the very fabric of governance in the country.
SB Adamu, a squadron leader with service no NAF/3481 from Jigawa state, was posted to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) — a programme coordinated by ONSA — four weeks before the alleged coup plot was botched.
Contrary to reports that many of the suspects were working with the ONSA, Adamu was the only one linked to the office through the NCTC.
The NCTC is one of the programmes coordinated by the ONSA.
Military sources told TheCable that when Adamu Garba Laka, a major general and national coordinator of NCTC, requested for a specific officer to be posted to the centre in August 2025, he was surprised that his request was not approved.
Instead, Adamu was posted to the office — and this is now fuelling speculation that the alleged coup plotters had infiltrated the military hierarchy.
Adamu was a member of regular course 59 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
President Bola Tinubu recently did a clear-out, sacking two of his services chiefs, including Hasan Abubakar, an air marshal.
The detailed squadron leader was allegedly detailed to “take out” Ribadu just as some other officers were tasked with killing other senior government officials, TheCable was informed.
He is said to be cooperating with investigators.
Military authorities are yet to officially confirm the coup plot.
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) insisted, in a press statement after Sahara Reporters broke the story, that the ongoing investigation of 16 officers is a “routine internal process aimed at ensuring [that] discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks”.
Tukur Gusau, a brigadier and director of defence information, said the findings of the investigation will be made public.
Media reports have continued to reveal the identities of those in detention after the story of the alleged coup plot.
Source: TheCable
The Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, says the Presidency will stand by the Nigerian Military’s position that there was never a coup attempt in Nigeria.
According to Naija News, on October 18, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had released a statement describing as false and misleading the reports online that alleged that activities to mark the 65th independence anniversary of Nigeria were cancelled over an attempted coup plot.
The rumours of a coup intensified further after President Tinubu sacked the Service Chiefs.
In an interview with TVC on Tuesday, Dare said the Presidency will stick to the narrative of the Nigerian Military that there was no coup attempt in Nigeria.
According to him, the presidency will only change its position when the military says otherwise, because the military is constitutionally empowered to secure the country.
He said, “We are going to stick to the narrative of the military because they are the ones constitutionally empowered to secure this country. They are given the power, arms and ammunition as the intelligence power.
“So when the military says these are the reasons why we have this development, we are going to stay with that narrative because that is the brief that is out there. Until the military comes with a different narrative, we are going to stay with that narrative. On some military being retained, there is a need to have institutional memory and maintain a balance and this decision was not taken on a flip for the person that was retained.”
In a significant turn of events, the military has taken decisive action by arresting a managing director linked to a burgeoning coup plot.
This strategic move comes amid an extensive investigation into the financial resources allegedly earmarked to support the coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu.
As the situation unfolds, there are growing concerns regarding the potential involvement of various stakeholders in this conspiracy.
Military investigators probing an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu are reportedly grilling a Managing Director of a Federal Government agency in the South South region, according to The PUNCH.
BREAKING: Fresh Twist As Ex-Governor Sylva Breaks Silence On Alleged Role In Coup Plot, What He Says
Two intelligence officers confirmed that the MD was arrested for allegedly transferring a huge sum of money to a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who was fingered as one of the financiers of the alleged plot to forcefully change the government.
According to reports, investigators believe the funds were meant to finance the coup.
“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.”
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Former Bayelsa governor Sylva’s Abuja house was reportedly raided by investigators on Saturday, with military operatives arresting his younger brother, Paga, who is his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs and went away with his driver.
The former minister and All Progressives Congress chieftain was outside the country during the operation.
Sources with knowledge of the operation explained that he was planning to return to the country when he heard that the coup leaders had been arrested. He thus shelved his plan to return home.
“Sylva’s Abuja home was raided on Saturday, but he wasn’t around. His younger brother, Paga, who is the SA, Domestic, and the driver, were arrested. Investigators believe Sylva allegedly funded the coup plot. Sylva was abroad and was preparing to leave for Nigeria when he got wind of the arrest of the coup leaders. So, he stayed back.”
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, could not be reached for comments on Tuesday as they didn’t pick up calls from our reporter.
Gusau had, in a statement on October 4, said that 16 officers were detained for breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
“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 have revealed that their grievances stemmed largely from perceived career stagnation caused by repeated failure in promotion examinations,” the statement partly read.
However, online platform SaharaReporters claimed that the detained officers — ranging from the rank of Captain to Brigadier General —were being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.
It also alleged that the officers were arrested at their homes across the country.
Bastard In Aso Rock’ – DSS Arrest Man Pushing For Coup On Social Media
Source: The Punch
Tension is palpable across the communities of Abuja following a foiled coup attempt, prompting authorities to intensify their efforts against those suspected of involvement in the plot.
In a significant development, members of the Nigerian Army executed a search operation at the Abuja residence of Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
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This raid is part of a broader investigation spearheaded by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) into the alleged conspiracy.
According to reports from SaharaReporters, this operation underscores the serious nature of the allegations flying around and the government’s commitment to unraveling the details behind this troubling incident. The atmosphere of uncertainty and concern in the capital seems to be growing as investigations unfold.
Multiple security sources confirmed to SaharaReporters on Tuesday that the army raid occurred at Sylva’s home in the Maitama area of Abuja.
According to insiders, a “special military team” carried out the operation after intelligence linked the “former South-South governor” to secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers.
“Nigerian Army special team ransacked the home of Timipre Sylva, who is believed to have fled Nigeria,” one top source familiar with the development told SaharaReporters.
“He is the South-South former governor frequently mentioned in the case. His brother, named Paga, was picked up during the raid. The operation also extended to his Bayelsa residence.”
Another security insider said that while no official statement had been issued regarding the raid, the action was “not random” but “a direct response to intelligence linking certain political figures to the alleged plotters.”
This development comes amid growing tension within the armed forces following SaharaReporters’ exclusive report that at least 16 senior military officers had been detained incommunicado by the DIA over an alleged coup plot.
The detained officers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, have been held for over three weeks in an undisclosed Abuja facility under what sources described as “unusual and suspicious conditions.”
Family members told SaharaReporters they initially believed their relatives had been kidnapped, as there was no official communication from the military regarding their arrests.
“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 had said.
Security analysts have questioned why the DIA, an intelligence agency under the Ministry of Defence, is spearheading the investigation instead of allowing each military service to handle its personnel internally, a move seen as “highly political.”
“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?” one retired officer asked. “This smells of politics. There’s clearly more going on behind the scenes.”
Speculations are now rife that the alleged plot and subsequent arrests may have deeper political undertones, potentially involving some former office holders with ties to late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State and a close ally of late Buhari, served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023.
He was also the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 2023 Bayelsa election, which he lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
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