The Nigerian Army has Nigerian Army has dismissed speculations about the number of senior officers that were recently compulsorily retired, saying only 38 officers were affected.
In a statement confirming the compulsory retirement of the senior officers on Friday, the Army authorities declined to disclose the number thus, fueling speculations that no fewer than 50 officers may have been affected.
However, Army spokesperson, Col Sani Usman, in a late night statement on Sunday, gave the breakdown of officers affected as nine Major Generals, 10 Brigadier Generals, seven Colonels, 11 Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.
Usman’s statement said “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to speculations and rumours regarding the number and names of the senior Army officers affected in the recent retirement exercise.
“This is worrisome as some individuals and media houses went to the ridiculous extent of publishing outrageous figures and names of serving officers as being retired. This is unethical and unfair and therefore necessary to inform the public to please disregard such inaccurate lists.
“We wish to state that only 38 senior officers were affected by the retirement exercise. For the avoidance of doubt the following is the statistics of the officers retired compulsorily; 9 Major Generals, 10 Brigadier Generals, 7 Colonels, 11 Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.
We are quite aware that some mischievous elements are trying to whip up sentiments.
“This is quite unfortunate because all the affected officers were retired based on Service exigencies and in line with the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“It is pertinent to remind all that the Nigerian Army is a professional institution that is based on highest standards of discipline and conduct.
“Consequently its personnel must remain professional, neutral and apolitical at all times.”
It would be recalled that Col Usman had anchored the reasons for the officers’ compulsory retirement on partisanship and corruption.
“Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.
“Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot.
“Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” the statement issued on Friday said.
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