Following the recent shake-up in the Nigerian Armed Forces, no fewer than 60 more senior military officers may be booted out from the system.
The 60 military officers are expected to retire while scores of other senior officers may also be swept out of the system.
This development is expected to follow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of new Service Chiefs.
The move, announced on Friday, saw General Christopher Musa removed as Chief of Defence Staff alongside other top commanders.
Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede, who was until now the Chief of Army Staff, has been named the new Chief of Defence Staff.
Major-General Waidi Shaibu was named the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke took over as the Chief of Air Staff.
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is appointed the new Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retained his position.
Impeccable sources in the Military said Friday’s sack of old service chiefs and their replacement with the new ones will trigger a major round of retirements, as officers senior to the new Service Chiefs are expected to quit immediately.
According to the source, “The newly appointed Service Chiefs will be decorated with their ranks any moment from now. As such, their seniors who are still in service will exit.”
Most affected are officers belonging to the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Courses 38, 39 and a few from Course 40.
Sources maintained that the changes are in line with military tradition to maintain discipline, hierarchy and command structure.
But the Presidency, on its part, said the shake-up was aimed at strengthening national security and improving coordination across the Armed Forces.
Recall that the appointments of the new Service Chiefs came days after reports of an alleged coup plot went viral on social media and circulated in the traditional media.
However, we could neither ascertain nor confirm any link between the rumours and the changes.
According to security experts, the expected mass retirement of senior military officers will open the way for a new generation of commanders across the Armed Forces.
The belief, in some quarters, is that the change could inject fresh momentum into ongoing military operations and unsettle, briefly, the command structure as new officers take over.
Former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Sani Usman Kukasheka (rtd), said the move was not unusual.
“It is a regular practice in the military. Leadership rotation brings new energy to operations,” he said.
A statement signed by Sunday Dare said, the president’s aide, praised the outgoing officers for their “patriotic service and dedication”.
He explained that the president made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts to strengthen the national security architecture
