Breaking: Buhari sacks service chiefs, names replacements

President Muhammadu Buhari finally bowed to pressure as he announced on Tuesday the sacking of the service chiefs with immediate effect.

He also appointed new hands to take over the security affairs of the nation.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President, Femi Adesina, made this known in a tweet on Tuesday.

The new service chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao as Chief of Air Staff.

Adesina tweeted, “PMB appoints new Service Chiefs. Maj Gen LEO Irabor, CDS, Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM IO Alao, Air Force.

“He congratulates outgoing service chiefs on efforts to bring enduring peace to the country.”

There have been repeated calls from many opinion leaders, groups and institutions including the National Assembly on the President to replace the service chiefs following the resurgence of Boko Haram insurgents in the North and persistent attacks by bandits and kidnappers across the country.

Beside, the service chiefs were said to have been for retirement.

The service chiefs were appointed by the President in July 2015. They are Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Tukur Buratai as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.