29 Army Generals are alleged to have been sent on terminal leave following the appointment of Maj-Gen Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
President Muhammadu Buhari chose Yahaya as replacement for the late COAS,Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash in Kaduna on the 21st of May 2021.
Attahiru died alongside 10 other military personnel while on their way to Zaria on official assignment.
There have been speculations that senior Generals of Regular courses 35 and 36 may be retired since Farouk Yahaya belonged to a more junior Regular Course.
There have also been news of the likely retirement of the Generals, a development that has however been denied by the Defence Headquarters.
While speaking with newsmen, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko said the retirement of of senior military officers was always voluntary.
According to him, “At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen Farouk Yahaya
“This has stirred up a lot of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military.
“I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours as retirement is only voluntary for senior officers who desire to do so.
“At this point, no retirements have been authorised by the military high command,” Onyeuko said.
Premium Times however, reports that a memo recently released shows that a total of 29 army generals of Regular Course 36 have been approved to provide on terminal leave, paving the way for their eventual retirement.
Their terminal leave is approved to take effect from the 1st of June, 2021. The memo is said to be silent on Regular Course 35 members who are also Yahaya’s seniors.
Full list of Generals proceeding on terminal leave:
- J B Olawumi
- J O Akomolafe
- C O Ude
- G Oyefesobi
- M O Uzoh
- C C Okonkwo
- M S A Aliyu
- U M Mohammed
- B M Shafa
- N E Angbazo
- Y P Auta
- S A Yaro
- J Parham
- H E Ayamasoawei
- O F Azinta
- B A Akinroluyo
- K A Y Isiyaku
- A T Hamman
- A M Aliyu
- HPZ Vintienagba
- H R Momoh
- J R Unuigbe
- A A Jidda
- O I Uzomere
- M H Magaji
- L A Adegboye
- M A Masanawa
- O A Akinyemi
- A M Dauda
Read also:
25 Generals May be Retired over Appointment of Farouk Yahaya