By Sportdsayonline.com
Fresh tension is brewing within Nigeria’s Armed Forces as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu carries out a sweeping shake-up of the military hierarchy, following intelligence reports and growing fears of an alleged coup plot.
Multiple military sources confirmed that the president’s latest decision has set off a wave of retirements, with no fewer than 60 Generals expected to leave the service in the coming days.
The move, announced on Friday, saw General Christopher Musa removed as Chief of Defence Staff, alongside several top commanders.
In a major realignment, Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede has been named the new Chief of Defence Staff, while Major-General Waidi Shaibu now takes over as Chief of Army Staff. Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke assumes command as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas becomes Chief of Naval Staff.
Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence, making him the only top officer spared in the shake-up.
60 Generals to Exit as New Chiefs Take Over
According to credible defence sources, the changes are expected to trigger a round of retirements among senior officers, particularly those from the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Courses 38, 39, and part of 40, who are senior to the new Service Chiefs.
> “The newly appointed Service Chiefs will soon be decorated with their ranks. As tradition demands, their seniors will proceed on retirement,” one source confirmed.
The presidency, in a statement signed by Sunday Dare, explained that the shake-up was aimed at “strengthening national security and improving synergy among the services.”
However, the timing of the announcement — coming days after reports of a coup plot surfaced — has fueled speculation that the president’s action was motivated by concerns of disloyalty within the ranks rather than routine rotation.
Several officers have reportedly been arrested or questioned in recent weeks over suspected subversive communications, although the Presidency has not confirmed any link between the rumours and the reshuffle.
> “This is more than a normal military change. The government wants to ensure total loyalty and prevent any internal instability,” a senior security analyst told Daily Trust.
Analysts Describe It As Generational Shift
A former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Sani Usman Kukasheka (rtd), described the move as part of military tradition.
> “It’s not unusual. The military evolves through leadership rotation, which brings new energy and ideas to the frontlines,” he said.
Security experts, however, caution that the mass retirement of senior officers could temporarily unsettle the command structure, even as it opens the door for a younger crop of commanders to shape Nigeria’s counterinsurgency and defence strategy.
Presidential aides insist that the shake-up was not influenced by political paranoia but by a deliberate effort to reposition the Armed Forces for better efficiency.
> “The President appreciates the outgoing Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedication to duty. The new appointments are part of ongoing reforms to strengthen the national security architecture,” Dare said.
Despite official assurances, tension remains palpable in Abuja and other military formations nationwide, as the country watches closely to see whether Tinubu’s bold military gamble restores confidence — or deepens the unease within the barracks.
PIONEER NEWS 