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| Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika |
Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika today [Dec.
27] shook the Nigerian Army to its foundation by announcing a sweeping clean of
top Generals, 38 of who were sent on compulsory retirement including former
Corps Commander of the Army Infantry School, Jaji, Kaduna state, Major General MD Isa who was recently
moved out following a twin bomb explosion at the Protestant Military church
located within the military formation.
Isa seen on on the left retirement
took many by surprise as the report of the Board of Inquiry set up after the
Jaji bombing is yet to be submitted. Represented at the briefing by the
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier
General Mobolaji Koleoso, the COAS,
Lt General Ihejirika, however said that Isa’s retirement had nothing to do
with the report of the Board of inquiry that investigated the Jaji cantonment
bombing.
He explained that General Isa was
retired based on his age, adding that the entire exercise was in accordance
with the “harmonized terms and
condition of service of the Nigerian Armed Forces”. Those also retired
include 11 other Major Generals including Major
General Obi the AU/UN Mission Commander in Sudan who returned to the
country last month, 26 Brigadier Generals and 13 Colonels.
The army authority said it is making
the announcement after it had notified the affected senior army officers in
accordance with the law, to apply to proceed on voluntary retirement or be made
to retire compulsorily.
While defending the integrity of the
process, the COAS through the spokesman said “All the 51 officers retired have
been notified earlier in the year of their retirement and most of them had
voluntarily written regarding same. Subsequently, the Army Council approved
their retirement from service having attended the mandatory age ceiling for
each rank.
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