Army sacks Generals, other senior officers in massive purge

The Nigerian Army on Friday announced that it had sacked “quite a number” of very high-ranking officers, adducing “service exigencies” as reason for the exercise.

A statement signed by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations, noted that the officers involved were mainly of the rank of Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that the bulk of officers kicked out from service were those allegedly fingered in the $15 billion arms scandal and who are currently standing trial before regular courts in the country.

The statement from the Nigerian Army failed to mention the names of officers involved in the purge. It reads in part:

“The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday.

“Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.

“Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.

“Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot.

“Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Army invited Nigerians not to read the release out of context and admonished its men to remain apolitical and professional at all times.

Others allegedly had one or two roles to play in the procurement of army equipment and other logistics and may have been indicted by the Chief of Army Staff’s Committee that investigated arms, logistics and other procurements dating back to the tenure of former COAS, Generals Owoye Azazi, Abdurahman Dambazau, Azubuike Ihejirika and KTJ Minimah.

It was gathered that some of those affected include Major General MY Ibrahim, a former GOC 7 Division, Maiduguri, Major General Fatai Ali, a former Chief of Training and Operations, Army Headquarters, Major General Ilo, GOC 2 Division, Ibadan, Major General SD Aliyu, former DA China, Brig-General Lawson, Defence Adviser China, Brigadier General Mustapha Onoiveta, a former ADC to the late President Yar’Adua, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdusalami, Brigade Commander, Jos, Brigadier General Bello, Acting Director, Operations, and former ADC to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Col Ojogbane Adegbe.

Courtesy: ripples nigeria