President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a major shake-up in the country’s security leadership as violence and insecurity continue to threaten stability, especially in the northern region.
In a surprise move on Friday, the president relieved three top military officials of their duties, General Christopher Musa (Chief of Defence Staff), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff).
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff, while W. Shaibu, I. Abbas, and S.K. Aneke will now lead the Army, Air Force, and Navy, respectively.
The presidency did not give a specific reason for the reshuffle. However, the decision comes amid reports of heightened tension in Abuja and persistent rumors of a coup plot which the Defence Headquarters has firmly denied. Local media had earlier reported that over 20 military officers, including a brigadier general and a colonel, were arrested in September over alleged links to the plot.
Across Nigeria, several armed factions continue to fuel insecurity. Boko Haram the Islamist militant group that first emerged in 2009 has been regaining strength in parts of the North-East. Its splinter groups, Ansaru and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), also remain active, alongside violent bandit groups that specialize in kidnappings and raids.
Despite government claims of progress, extremist attacks have recently escalated, with militants targeting military bases, ambushing patrols, and terrorizing communities. These developments have renewed fears of Nigeria slipping back into the peak years of Boko Haram’s reign of terror.
Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare said the newly appointed service chiefs have been tasked to enhance “professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship” within the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Security expert Senator Iroegbu, based in Abuja, suggested the move might be more about consolidating control than reforming the military.
“Some of us saw these changes coming,” he noted. “At this point, it seems the government is prioritizing regime protection above other security challenges.”
With recent coups toppling governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, many Nigerians are watching closely to see how Tinubu’s administration navigates this tense period and whether these changes will bring the much-needed peace and stability the nation craves.
