President Muhammadu Buhari has heeded the voice of reason by sacking Service chiefs in the country with immediate effect.
He has also appointed new ones to take over the leadership of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Femi Adesina, Buhari’s Special Adviser On Media and Publicity declared this in a tweet on Tuesday.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service” he said.
“Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.”
“President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.”
He listed the new Service Chiefs as Major-General Lucky Onyenuchea Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
“The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities. This change, long clamoured for by Nigerians, is coming against the backdrop of a worsening security crisis in Nigeria,” added.
Some of the new chiefs have been involved in the battle against Boko Haram insurgency. Gen Lucky Irabor, the new chief of Defence Staff, once served as the Deputy Theatre Commander/Land Component Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE and later Theatre Commander Operation LAFIYA DOLE against the Boko Haram insurgents.
The new Chief Army Staff, Major-General Attahiru, is taking over from the man who once removed him as commander off the troops battling the Boko Haram insurgents.
Buratai in December 2017 withdrew Attahiru following a string of attacks by Boko Haram, including the death of about 50 people in a mosque.
Buratai had also given him a July deadline that year to capture to Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader, whether dead or alive. Shekau has remained elusive since then.
This change, long clamoured for by Nigerians, is coming against the backdrop of a worsening security crisis in Nigeria.
