The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) have reacted to speculations that the fate of Army Generals of Regular Courses 35 and 36 hangs in the balance in the Nigerian Army.
The DQH disclosed that it had not retired any Army officer, much less the Generals, as being speculated in some quarters.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, debunked reports about retirement of Generals in the Army, while speaking to journalists on Monday.
He refused to make categorical statement on whether they would be retired or redeployed to tri-service institutions, in line with military doctrines.
It was learnt that senior officers became agitated when one of their juniors, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya of Regular Course 37, was appointed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), following the death of the erstwhile COAS, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash in Kaduna on May 21.
It was gathered that 29 of the Generals have been asked to put in their papers and proceed on terminal leave in compliance with extant rules in the Nigerian Army.
According to him, “Who told you that? Tell the person to confirm it for you. Since they have issued it, they have their sources, but not the Nigerian Army. Did anybody issue any release (statement) about that? If there is anything like that, I will issue a release.”
Last week, the DHQ described reports of mass retirement of Generals as a conjecture of the media.
The Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, stressed that retirement of senior officers is only voluntary.
But The Nation’s check revealed that some senior officers have stopped going to their offices immediately the new Chief of Army Staff, Yahaya assumed office.
For instance, the Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj.-Gen. T. A. Gagariga, has been acting on behalf of the Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Ahanotu, who is believed to have proceeded on terminal leave.
(The Nation’s )
