President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Picnews
President Bola Tinubu sacked the nation’s service chiefs, including General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, and appointed new heads to lead the Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force. According to the Presidency, this move aims to “strengthen the national security architecture”. The specific reasons behind the sackings are not explicitly stated, but the development comes amid persistent security threats in Nigeria, including insurgency in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, and secessionist unrest in parts of the Southeast.
The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Major General W. Shaibu was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke assumes duties as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas takes over as the new Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.
The sudden change in leadership has raised questions about transparency and stability in government, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) calling on President Tinubu to provide clarity on the reasons behind the sackings. The opposition party expressed concerns that the abrupt shake-up could deepen public anxiety and feed further conspiracy theories rather than restore confidence. Retired military generals, however, have welcomed the change of guard, describing it as a correction of past anomalies and an opportunity for career progression .
The development comes after reports of an alleged plot by some military personnel to overthrow President Tinubu’s administration, which the Presidency has denied. The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) reportedly detained 16 senior military officers attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) amid suspicion of possible disloyalty among key senior officers. Despite the denial, the shake-up has intensified speculation that Tinubu’s administration is facing rising distrust within the armed forces .
