Army disowns list of compulsorily retired officers, says only 38 officers were fired

The Nigerian Army has dismissed the list being bandied about, saying it did not emanate from the military.

Army spokesman, Col. Sani Usman said that the list of affected officers contain 38 names, not the number circulating on the Internet.

His statement reads, “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.

“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.

“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.”

. Being a statement by the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sani Usman.

The spokesman is obviously referring to the which has gone viral, with an indication of the preponderance of soldiers of southern origin in the sacked list, which is already generating ethnic-cum tribal sentiments.

But while the Army claims that only 38 officers were affected, the list trending on the web contains 47 names.

Many Facebook posts simply described the development as the gradual unfurling of Buhari’s northernisation agenda.See the list below:

Full List of The Army Officers Compulsorily Retired On Friday By Muhammadu Buhari. They Are 90% Southerners. The Ethnic, Regional, and Religious Bigotry of Nigeria’s President Continues:

Maj. Gen TC Ude (SE)
Maj. Gen LC Ilo (SE)
Maj. Gen IN Ijoma (SE)
Maj. Gen O Ejimai (SE)
Maj. Gen PAT Akem (SS)
Maj. Gen ED Atewe (SS)
Maj. Gen Letam Wiwa -Younger brother of murdered Environmental Rights activist and author, Ken Saro-Wiwa (SS)

Maj. Gen FO Alli (SS)
Maj. Gen Mobolaji Koleoso (SW)
Maj. Gen SD Aliyu (MB)
Maj. Gen MY Ibrahim
Brig. Gen GO Agachi (SE)
Brig. Gen Okonkwo (SE)
Brig. Gen Ogidi (SE)
Brig. Gen Koko Essien (SS)
Brig. Gen PE Ekpeyong (SS)
Brig. Gen Bright Fiboinumama (SS)
Brig. Gen. M. Onoyiveta (SS)
Brig. Gen IMD Lawson (SS)
Brig. Gen Oyefesobi (SW)
Brig. Gen AI Onibasa (SW)
Brig. Gen Bashir Mormoni (MB)
Brig. Gen AH Sa'ad -Former ADC to late President Musa Yar’adua

Brig. Gen MG Ali
Brig. Gen LN Bello
Brig. Gen D Abdusalam
Col. CK Ukoha (SE)
Col. OU Nwankwo (SE)
Col. Nicholas Achinze -Dasuki's ADC (SE)
Col. Tonye F Minimah –Younger brother of former Chief of Army Staff, LT. General Kenneth Minimah (SS)

Col. FD Kayode (SW)
Col. Ojogbane Adegbe –ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan (MB)

Col. Audu (MB)
Col. DR Hassan
Col. MA Suleiman
Lt. Col GC Nyekwu (SE)
Lt. Col C Enechukwu (SE)
Lt. Col CO Amadi (SE)
Lt. Col Adimoha (SE)
Lt. Col OC Egemode (SS)
Lt. Col TE Arigbe (SW)
Lt. Col TO Oladuntoye (SW)
Lt. Col Baba Ochankpa (MB)
Lt. Col DB Dazang (MB)
Lt. Col A Mohammed
Lt. Col AS Mohammed
Maj. TA Williams (SW)