Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Friday dismissed and replaced several senior military leaders as part of a major shake-up of the country’s security structure. The move follows persistent insecurity in the north and renewed rumours of a coup attempt.
In a statement, Tinubu said the decision aimed “to further strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.” Those removed include Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla, and Chief of Air Staff Hassan Abubakar.
Olufemi Oluyede, former army chief, has been appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Shaibu, I Abbas, and SK Aneke were named as new heads of the army, air force, and navy respectively.
Government officials insist the reshuffle is routine, though it comes shortly after local media claimed more than a dozen officers, including a brigadier general and a colonel, were arrested in connection with an alleged coup plot. The army has denied the reports.
Security analyst Confidence MacHarry told AFP that the move “could be a way to take the wind out of coup plotters’ sails or to punish chiefs for failing to improve security.”
The leadership changes also come as Abuja witnessed protests this week demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra movement. Police responded with tear gas and arrests.
Across northern Nigeria, Boko Haram fighters have intensified their attacks, while criminal “bandit” groups continue to kidnap civilians and loot villages. Analysts warn that rising insecurity could resemble the violence seen at the height of insurgency a decade ago.
Earlier this year, the United States approved a $346 million arms deal to help Nigeria combat insurgents and criminal networks. But Tinubu’s latest move, some analysts say, suggests his administration is increasingly focused on regime stability in a region where military takeovers have recently toppled governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.