Military Opens Up On Alleged Mass Retirement of Generals Over Yahaya’s Appointment

Farouk Yahaya

Rumours of mass retirement of generals following President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of  Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff has been denied by the Nigerian Defence Headquarters.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko described the report as false.

Onyeuko disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that the retirement of senior officers from the military was always voluntary, adding that the military high command was yet to authorize the retirement of any officer.

“At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya.

“This has stirred up a lot of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military.

“I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours as retirement is only on a voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so.

“At this point, no retirements have been authorized by the military high command,” he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Yahaya as the new COAS following the death of his predecessor, Ibrahim Attahiru, alongside 10 other officers in a plane crash.