Amidst Ethnic Crisis, Buhari Sacks Service Chiefs As Nnamdi Kanu Declares War

President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.

Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubaka.

President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.

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

The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.

@views exclusive right: Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)January 26, 2021

It would be recalled there have been imminent ethnic violence brewing in the country most recently since on Saturday after Muhammadu Buhari media aide, Garba Shehu said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has ordered the arrest of Sunday Igboho.

Sunday Igboho last week Friday led several Yoruba youths to evict Fulani herdsmen in Igangan village of Oyo State after the seven the days ultimatum given to the herders to leave the Yoruba land over incessant criminal attacks on the host community allegedly traceable to Fulani herdsmen expired.

The intended arrest made the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to issue threat messages to the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko and her family to resign her appointment in disobedience to the IGP order.

Nnamdi Kanu who scheduled 7pm yesterday to make live broadcast on the brewing ethnic crisis was yet to do so when exchange of gun fire, killing of both civilians and non civilians ensued between men of the Nigeria armed forces and suspected men of Biafra Armed group named Eastern Security Network at the Orlu houses of Imo state.

Destruction of lives and properties in the ensuing war forced the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodima to impose 6am to 6pm curfew on several local government areas of the state yesterday till further notice.

Nnamdi Kanu during the audio live broadcast yesterday praised the gallantry of the men of the Eastern Security Network for allegedly repelling the attacks from the Nigeria army at Orlu houses of Imo state on Tuesday.

Nnamdi Kanu boosted of the capacity of the Eastern Security Network and during the live broadcast emphatically said he currently commands the largest army on planet earth.

Before the live broadcast, Nnamdi Kanu shows video of an exhausted Nigeria soldier rescued by good Samaritans during the Orlu military/civilian fracas.

According to Nnamdi Kanu, the Nigeria Military fearfully refused to enter Orlu bush to fight with men of the Eastern Security Network instead they resorted to killing of innocent Nigerians and burning down of houses.

Nnamdi Kanu in the broadcast said his intention is to liberate all ethnic groups from oppression and thereafter separation from the current structure of Nigeria, a referendum would be conducted for the selected ethnic groups to decide whether to continue as one Nation or otherwise.

The threat pose by Nnamdi Kanu in the broadcast yesterday and the resultant imminent secessionist uprising in Orlu houses of Imo state may have informed Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to sack the service chiefs this afternoon after several years of deaf ears to the calls of many Nigerians for the sack of the topmost defence staffs.

The new Chief of Defence Staff, Leo Irabor was formerly the theatre commander of Operation Lafia Dole that reclaimed several territories from Boko haram.