The Nigerian Army has described as worrisome the speculations regarding the number and names of the senior Army officers affected in the recent retirement exercise.”
It was widely-reported last week that 58 officers, including ADCs to former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, were compulsorily retired over allegations of corruption and partisanship.
The Acting Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman in a statement Sunday night said the speculations were “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.”
He said further “It is 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.
Colonel Usman said “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 it’s personnel must remain professional, neutral and apolitical at all times.”
