Full List: Despites Denial, Nigerian Army Retires 29 Generals Following New COAS Appointment

Full List: Despites Denial, Nigerian Army Retires 29 Generals Following New COAS Appointment.

Twenty-nine (29) Army Generals have been forced to retire from service following the appointment of Major General Farouq Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.

The forceful retirement of the Generals contradicts the claim by the Defence Headquarters last week that none of its personnel had been retired following the appointment of Yahaya, a Regular Course 37 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Major Generals Farouq Yahaya, who hailed from Sokoto State, was named the Army Chief by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27. He succeeded Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died on May 21 in a plane crash alongside 10 other military personnel while on official assignment to Zaria, Kaduna State.

Shortly after the appointment of the new COAS, there were speculations that between 30 and 45 generals, who are his seniors, may be asked to go home. The senior officers belong to Regular Courses 35 and 36.

What this means

It is a tradition in the military that when a junior is appointed as a service chief, senior officers, who are ahead of him or her, would proceed on retirement.

The understanding is that senior military officers are unlikely to take orders from their juniors.

DHQ Denial..

The Defence Headquarters, however, dismissed the speculations of massive retirement, stressing that the retirement of senior officers from the military was always ‘voluntary’. It said the military high command had yet to authorise the retirement of any officer.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, who briefed journalists on the issue last week, said retirement of senior officers from the military was always voluntary.

According to him “At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Majar General Farouq Yahaya,” Mr Onyeuko stated.

SEE ALSO: COAS Appointment: DHQ Opens Up On Alleged Retirement Of Army Generals

“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 authorised by the military high command.”

The Generals retired..

In a statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES and seen by Onyxnews indicates that a total of twenty nine (29) Army Major Generals have been approved to proceed on terminal leave, paving way for their eventual retirement.

Their retirement comes less than 14 days after the appointment of Major General Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.

According to the statement, the 29 Generals, from regular course 36 have been approved to proceed on terminal leave.

Onyxnews understands that their leave was approved with effect from June 1, 2021.

However, the statement was, silent on major generals from the regular course 35, who are also Major General Yahaya seniors.

See full list of Nigerian Army Generals going on retirement below..

1JB Olawumi
2.JO Akomolafe
3. CO Ude
4. G Oyefesobi
5. MO Uzoh
6. CC Okonkwo
7. MSA Aliyu
8. UM Mohammed
9. BM Shafa
10. NE Angbazo
11. YP Auta
12. SA Yaro
13. J Sarham
14. HE Ayamasoawei
15. OF Azinta
16. BA Akinroluyo
17. KAY Isiyaku
18. AT Hamman
19. AM Aliyu
20. HPZ Vintienagba
21. HR Momoh
22. JR Unuigbe
23. AA Jidda
24. OI Uzomere
25. MH Magaji
26. LA Adegboye
27. MA Masanawa
28. OA Akinyemi
29. AM Dauda