By Coolnews.ng Reporter | October 25, 2025
A major reorganisation is underway in Nigeria’s Armed Forces as no fewer than 60 senior military generals across the Army, Navy, and Air Force are expected to bow out of service following the dramatic replacement of Service Chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The latest development, which has sent shockwaves through the nation’s defence establishment, comes just hours after Tinubu approved sweeping changes in the top ranks of the military, a move that insiders link to the recent alleged coup scare and growing unease within the armed forces.
Tinubu Reshuffles Top Military Command
On Friday, President Tinubu announced the removal of General Christopher Musa as the Chief of Defence Staff, replacing him with General Olufemi Oluyede, who until now was the Chief of Army Staff.
In the same announcement, Major-General Waidi Shaibu was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke was named Chief of Air Staff. The naval command also saw a change of leadership, with Rear Admiral Idi Abbas emerging as the new Chief of Naval Staff.
The President, however, retained Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence, signaling a level of confidence in his intelligence leadership amid ongoing investigations within the military.
Over 60 Generals to Retire
Military sources who spoke to Coolnews.ng disclosed that the restructuring would automatically force into retirement all senior officers who are either of equal rank or senior to the newly appointed Service Chiefs.
“It’s a tradition in the Nigerian military. Once a new Service Chief is appointed, those above or of the same course automatically go. The number this time is quite high — well over 60 generals across the three services,” one top-ranking officer confirmed.
Coup Allegation and Rising Suspicion
This major shake-up comes amid reports of an alleged foiled coup attempt within the Nigerian Armed Forces, which reportedly led to the detention of 16 senior officers by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Although the Presidency insists the changes were made to “strengthen national security architecture,” multiple intelligence sources told Coolnews.ng that the move followed weeks of internal investigations and heightened suspicion of disloyalty among key military figures.
The detained officers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, are reportedly being held incommunicado at a DIA facility in Abuja. Family members told Coolnews.ng that the men had been missing for weeks before they later discovered they were in military custody.
“It’s been nearly three weeks without contact. We thought our brother was kidnapped until we heard from a friend in the NSA office that he was arrested,” a distraught relative said. “No official explanation has been given. Nobody is allowed to visit or speak with them.”
Questions Over DIA’s Role
Security analysts have questioned the legality of the DIA detaining serving officers, arguing that such disciplinary issues should fall under the jurisdiction of the respective military arms.
A retired security expert told Coolnews.ng that the move represents a breach of standard procedure.
“The DIA is not a military tribunal. Its job is intelligence and counter-espionage. If the government wants to discipline officers, the Army, Navy, or Air Force should handle their own,” he explained.
The expert described the ongoing purge as “selective and politically motivated”, warning that the tension within the military could deepen if due process is ignored.
Public Reactions
The shake-up has also drawn criticism from civil society actors. Babatunde Akintunde, a senior official at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), accused the government of “double-speak” and deliberately misleading Nigerians about the alleged coup attempt.
“The same government that denied any coup plot is now sacking all service chiefs,” Akintunde said. “You can’t keep deceiving the public and still expect confidence in your national security management.”
Background
The Defence Intelligence Agency operates under the Ministry of Defence and is tasked with coordinating intelligence among the military services. The current National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, under whose office some of the detained officers reportedly served, is said to be directly involved in supervising the internal probe.
As the nation awaits further clarification from the Presidency and Defence Headquarters, analysts warn that the forced retirement of over 60 generals could have a ripple effect on morale and loyalty within the military — a force already grappling with insurgency, banditry, and political instability.
“This is the biggest shake-up since 1999,” a senior source said. “It’s not just a change of guards — it’s a total recalibration of power and loyalty in the armed forces.”
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