Retirement saga: Nigerian Army opens up, reveals how many officers were dismissed

– The controversy surrounding the retirement of senior officers by the Nigerian Army authorities recently is still raging

– The Army has dispelled insinuations that the exercise was carried out to victimize certain officers

– Only 38 senior officers were retired, according to the Army authorities

The Nigerian Army has dispelled the rumours making the rounds that the recent retirement exercise it embarked upon which affected some senior officers was biased and aimed at victimizing some of those affected because of their tribe and political leaning.

In a statement sent to journalists today, June 13 and signed by the acting director, Army public relations, Colonel Sani Usman, the army authorities also clarified that only 38 senior officers were affected.

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‘”We wish to state that only 38 senior officers were affected by the retirement exercise. For the avoidance of doubt the following is the statistics of the officers retired compulsorily; 9 Major Generals, 10 Brigadier Generals, 7 Colonels, 11 Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.

“We are quite aware that some mischievous elements are trying to whip up sentiments. This is quite unfortunate because all the affected officers were retired based on Service exigencies and in line with the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“It is pertinent to remind all that the Nigerian Army is a professional institution that is based on highest standards of discipline and conduct. Consequently it’s personnel must remain professional, neutral and apolitical at all times,” part of the statement read.

The statement was again silent on the names of the affected officers. Some Army sources however says it is against the Army tradition to do such.

Some media reports had reported that the number of affected officers was 47. Among those listed were Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe, a former aide-de-camp (ADC) to ex president Goodluck Jonathan, Brigadier-General Mustapha Onoiveta, a former ADC to ex president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Colonel Nicholas Achinze, a former military assistant to the former national security adviser (NSA) Gen. Owoye Azazi (rtd.) and the former NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.).

READ ALSO: Nigerian military took long to sack its political officers

Meanwhile, some of the officers affected have spoken on their retirement. The officers who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the military authorities acted as per sectional and political considerations. 

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