Over 60 Generals to Retire as Tinubu Appoints New Service Chiefs.

Mass retirement hits Nigerian military following appointment of new Service Chiefs

Nigeria’s armed forces are set for one of the biggest shake-ups in recent years as over 60 senior military officers are expected to retire.

The development follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointment of new Service Chiefs, a move that has stirred reactions both within and outside the military.

According to reports, the announcement on Friday led to the removal of General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff, alongside other top commanders.

In the new arrangement, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, formerly the Chief of Army Staff, now takes charge as the Chief of Defence Staff. Major-General Waidi Shaibu assumes office as the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke becomes the Chief of Air Staff. Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has been appointed Chief of Naval Staff, and Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his role as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Military insiders say the reshuffle will force the retirement of dozens of generals who are senior to the newly appointed service heads a routine but significant outcome in military transitions.

However, this shake-up did not come without controversy. It follows reports by SaharaReporters alleging that the mass changes came after an attempted coup and the secret detention of 16 senior military officers by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Although the Presidency has denied any coup attempt, describing the shake-up as part of efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture,” sources claim the move followed weeks of tension, suspicion, and internal investigations into possible disloyalty among senior officers.

Reacting to the development, Babatunde Akintunde, a senior official at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), accused the government of deceiving the public.

“The President sacked all service chiefs and appointed new ones after denying there was any coup attempt,” he said. “This administration keeps playing hide and seek with the truth.”

Investigations reveal that the detained officers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, are being held incommunicado by the Defence Intelligence Agency in an undisclosed location in Abuja.

Family members of the detained personnel told SaharaReporters that they had initially feared their loved ones were kidnapped due to the secrecy surrounding their arrests.

“It’s been 18 days since the arrest, and no one has been allowed to see them or speak with them,” a relative said. “The military has not provided any explanation about their condition or whereabouts.”

Security experts have also raised concerns about the DIA’s role in detaining the officers. Traditionally, such cases are handled by the service branches directly the Army, Navy, or Air Force depending on the officer’s unit.

“The Defence Intelligence Agency is supposed to handle intelligence and counter-espionage, not disciplinary matters,” a retired military officer told reporters. “What they’re doing now steps outside due process.”

He further argued that if this is truly a disciplinary sweep, the scope seems unusually narrow. “If they were serious, over 10,000 officers could be under review. Why only 16? It looks more political than procedural.”

As uncertainty lingers, the mass retirement of over 60 generals signals a new era in Nigeria’s military structure — one shaped by political pressure, internal suspicion, and the government’s attempt to tighten its grip on national security.