President Bola Tinubu has approved a major overhaul of Nigeria’s military leadership in a move aimed at strengthening the nation’s security architecture.
Under the new appointments, General Olufemi Oluyede has been named Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding General Christopher Musa. Major-General W. Shaibu takes over as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke assumes the role of Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas becomes Chief of Naval Staff. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.
President Tinubu commended the outgoing Service Chiefs for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” while urging the newly appointed officers to “justify the confidence reposed in them” and uphold the professionalism, vigilance, and unity that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria. All appointments take immediate effect.
The shake-up comes in the wake of an alleged coup plot that saw about 20 military officers detained over claims of planning to overthrow the Tinubu administration. According to sources, 16 officers, including a Brigadier-General and a Colonel, were initially arrested in late September following intelligence that they were holding secret meetings and expressing dissatisfaction with the government. Additional suspects were reportedly apprehended subsequently.
“The alleged coup plotters had tentatively picked a date for the coup and were continuing consultations when the plot leaked,” a senior military official told Premium Times. The leak reportedly triggered panic within government circles, leading to the cancellation of the National Independence Day parade on October 1 for security reasons.
The Defence Headquarters has since constituted an investigative panel, comprising representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and Department of State Services (DSS), to probe what authorities described as “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.” While details of the panel’s findings remain confidential, military officials privately confirmed that the arrests were linked to a planned attempt to destabilize the Tinubu administration.
Defence Headquarters spokesperson Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau said on October 4 that the detained officers were under investigation for indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, adding that “upon completion of the investigation, indicted officers will face the full military disciplinary process in accordance with established procedures to ensure accountability and preserve professionalism within the Armed Forces.”
The development follows growing public discontent over economic hardship and comes shortly after a military coup in Madagascar, the ninth successful coup in Africa since 2020. Detained officers are reportedly being held at a military facility in Abuja, while the Armed Forces have scaled down ceremonial activities for security reasons.
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