New COAS: No Compulsory Retirement for Senior Officers–DHQ
EMERGENCY DIGEST- The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday dispelled the rumour on the mass retirement of some senior officers in the Nigerian Army.
Media reports had claimed that some Major Generals and senior officers in the Army may be forced to retire after Maj. Gen. Faruq Yahaya was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
Yahaya, succeeded Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the immediate-past COAS, who was killed when a military jet he and 10 other officers boarded crashed at the Kaduna International Airport, recently.
Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, who said the appointment of Maj. Gen. Yahaya as COAS stirred up lot of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military, however stressed that retirement is only on voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so.
Onyeuko, Acting Director, Defence Media Operation (DMO), disclosed this while giving an update on ongoing military operations, in the country.
He then described the rumours as unfounded, while also pointing out that no retirements has been authorized by the Military High Command.
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Meanwhile, the DMO Acting Director, said troops of Operation DELTA SAFE conducted series of kinetic operations against economic saboteurs and other socio-economic vices between 20 May and 2 June, 2021.
In Rivers State, Onyeuko noted that troops immobilized several illegal refining sites, along with numerous reservoirs and polythene bags of illegally refined oil products at different sites.
“Troops also intercepted and deactivated boats and vehicles used for illegal bunkering and illegal economic activities as well as recovered large quantities of oil products and other items of economic value.
“The operations were conducted at Ibaa and Elele-Alimini general areas of Emohua LGA; Komkom Community in Oyigbo LGA; Isaka axis in Degema LGA and Okpoworo area in Ahoada LGA. Other locations were, Bonny Town, Tamgbolo – Susu Community and Samkiri Community general areas as well as Coconut Estate Waterways, all in Bonny LGA.
“In Delta State, within the period in focus at different locations, troops arrested wooden boats and immobilized speed boats laden with contraband items and illegally refined oil products and crude oil in jerry cans.
“These operations took place at Abiteye area in Warri South and Opuama Creek in Warri North as well as Warri South LGAs of Delta State. Troops also arrested cultists on Oshoni Street at Ozoro in Isoko North LGA of the State. The arrested cultists have terrorized innocent people in the area,” he said
