Massive Shake up

Over 50 officers of the Nigerian Army will be retired in the next few days, with the official process begun, according to highly-placed sources who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday. A list, with names and ranks of those affected, is said to be ready and waiting for implementation.
Officers of ranks from Major-Generals, down to Lieutenant-Colonels, are affected in the massive retirement, described as “a major shake-up”

Sources said the decision was reached during a long meeting of the Army Council, that began around 9:00pm Thursday, and lasted till the early hours of yesterday.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Buratai.
Majority of the officers are alleged to be close to senior officers in the past government, and are affected to ensure that the “issue of dual loyalty is eradicated.”
Some of them told Daily Trust that various allegations were levelled against them. “The allegations were crafted to persecute us because  we were never investigated by or invited to any panel. In fact, some of us  were only called on phone and told of the retirement, which was approved by the Army Council, headed by the Minister of Defence,” the source said.
“We’re not due for retirement,” he stressed.
A close look at the list revealed that affected officers are mainly those who held command positions during the last election of March, 2015.
Additional sources told Daily Trust that the retirement will affect very capable officers who still have a lot to offer the nation.
However, another highly-placed source said the development might change the way Army officers will approach civil duties. “It might actually force a positive change in the way military officers conduct themselves professionally,” he said.
The Army spokesman could not be reached for comment at press time.