Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has replaced the country’s Service Chiefs with immediate effect, months after several calls from citizens and civil society groups for their sack.
“I have accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service. I thank them all for their overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to Nigeria, and wish them well in their future endeavours,” the President said via his Twitter handle.
In a statement by the President’s media aide Femi Adesina, the President revealed the new Service Chiefs which include: Major-General Leo 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,’ the statement read.
The former Service Chiefs 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.
By Abel Ejikeme