Nigeria’s Military High command dismisses rumours about impending mass retirement of Army Generals

By Tom Chiahemen (ABUJA) –

The Military High Command in Nigeria has dismissed fears that the recent appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya, would send dozens of Military officers who are his seniors, into early retirement.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor, who allayed the fears in Abuja today, said that no retirements had been authorized by the Military High Command.

General Irabor, made this known through the Acting Director, Defence Media Operation (DMO), Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, who was briefing Defence Correspondents on the operational efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies conducting operations to tackle insecurity in the Country.

Ever since the appointment of Major-General Yahaya as the new COAS by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27, 2021, speculations have been rife that the military career of about 24 Major Generals in the Nigerian Army may soon come to a ‘sudden’ end.

Major General Faruq Yahaya, new COAS

Yahaya, an indigene of Sokoto State in North-West Nigeria, succeeded Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, the immediate-past COAS who died in an air crash at the Kaduna International Airport about three weeks ago.

The speculations were based on the assumption that since the 24 Generals, comprising 13 from the North and 11 from the South, were senior to Faruq, they might be compelled to leave service.

Brigadier-General Onyeuko, who acknowledged that the appointment of the new COAS had stirred up lots of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military, however described such speculations as baseless and unfounded.

He said, “I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours. Retirement is only on voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so. At this point, no retirements have been authorized by the Military High Command.”

During the briefing at the DHQ, Onyeuko gave highlights of what he described as the un-relenting and committed efforts of the gallant troops as well as the cumulative results of our operational activities in the various operations and specific events between 20 May and 2 June 2021.

He disclosed that within the period in focus, troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria intensified their operational efforts in the fight against terrorism, banditry, hoodlums and militancy as well as other criminalities across all the geo-political zones of the Country.

“Troops conducted series of clearance patrols, ambush, raid, picketing, cordon and search operations as well as artillery bombardments. Others are anti-piracy, anti-illegal oil bunkering, anti-crude oil theft, anti-pipeline vandalism and anti-smuggling operations were also conducted within the period.

“There were also extensive air operations, which included air patrols, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, offensive air strikes, air interdictions, search and rescue operations as well as close air support for ground troops. These operations within the period yielded appreciable results,” he said.

Giving account of the operations carried out by OPERATION HADIN KAI, Brigadier-General Onyeuko said: “The troops of Operation HADIN KAI between 20 May and 2 June 2021 carried out series of operational activities. They rescued kidnapped victims, neutralized scores of terrorists, destroyed terrorists’ enclaves, arrested terrorists and intercepted terrorists’ logistics items including vehicles. On 20 May 2021, troops had contact and engaged BHT criminal elements in Gwoza LGA of Borno State. This occurred as troops swiftly responded to a distress call by farmers on attack on their location. Troops gallantly rescued the farmers. During the encounter, several terrorists were neutralized, while some others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. Also on same day, troops while conducting aggressive clearance operation on BHT’s hideouts at Ngaiwa, Tongunle, Washelle, Mo’o, Mudollo, Mugdalla and Amtul villages, all in Dikwa LGA of Borno State, killed scores of the terrorists and recovered large caches of arms and ammunition.

“In related developments between 21 and 25 May, troops conducted cordon and search, raid operations and arrested BHT logistics suppliers at Ngamdu Town in Kaga LGA of Borno State, New Barracks Location along Damaturu – Potiskum road as well as Kukareta Town in Damaturu LGA of Yobe State. Items recovered during the operation include; large numbers of jerry can and drums of PMS, assorted arms and ammunition and assorted logistics items. This large consignment of logistics has drastically dislocated the terrorists’ logistics network in the region. Meanwhile on 23 May 2021, the Air Task Force of Operation HADIN KAI conducted an extensive air interdiction missions near Gudumbali in Guzamal LGA and the Toumbuns of Lake Chad of Borno State. The air interdiction missions executed with various NAF platforms resulted in the neutralization of scores of BHT criminal elements and destruction of their camps and logistics facilities.”

On OPERATION HADARIN DAJI, he said: “Between 20 May and 2 June 2021, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI conducted and executed series of concurrent operations. These operations led to the arrest of kidnappers/bandits and gun runners, rescue of kidnapped victims, repelling of armed bandits’ attack and neutralization of scores of armed bandits as well as recovery of caches of arms and ammunition. These operational achievements were recorded during troops’ aggressive patrols’; response to distress calls as well raid and ambush operations. The operations were executed at Jalawa Village in Kibiya LGA of Kano State; Shombo Warari Market Road in Rijau LGA of Niger State; Lugu Village in Wurno LGA of Sokoto State; Hayin Daudu Village under Mada District in Gusau LGA of Zamfara State; Dangeza Road in Batsari LGA of Katsina State. The troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI have remained vigilant and dominated the operational areas with constant aggressive patrols.

He also spoke on the activities of OPERATION SAFE HAVEN, OPERATION WHIRL STROKE, OPERATION THUNDER STRIKE/WHIRL PUNCH, OPERATION DELTA SAFE and, OPERATION AWATSE.

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