Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has fired the heads of the country’s armed forces whom he appointed when he first took office in 2015.
The statement from the presidency also announced the names of their replacements. No reason was given for the resignations of the army, navy, air force and chief of defence staff heads.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement said “President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.
“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.
“The new service chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao as 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 firing and appointment of new Service Chiefs comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with widespread insecurity including the long-running Boko Haram insurgency and rampant kidnappings.
There have been calls, notably from the country’s powerful governors and the National Assembly, for the president to replace the service chiefs as many felt they were underperforming.
Mr Buhari, a former army general, was elected in 2015 on the promise of ending the insurgency in Nigeria’s north-eastern region.
However, Boko Haram and other Islamist militant groups continue to stage attacks despite the government saying on several occasions that Islamist militants have been defeated.
Speaking on the President’s decision, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose called on the International Criminal Court and other relevant authorities to investigate the tenure of the “sacked” service chiefs.
He specifically called for a probe into the “human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings under their watch,” also accusing them of only serving themselves and their pockets, rendering Nigeria insecure.
“The new service chiefs should learn from their immediate predecessors and remember nothing lasts forever.
“It is my call to the ICC and other relevant authorities that the tenure of the “sacked” service chiefs should be investigated, most importantly human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings under their watch and commands.
“The sacked service chiefs only served themselves and their pockets and can at best be described as “Disservice Chiefs” under whom Nigeria became completely insecure.
“Though coming after persistent pressure from Nigerians, President Buhari’s removal of the Service Chiefs and their replacement is a right step in the right direction.
“It is yet another victory for the people of Nigeria.”
