The Nigerian Army on Thursday announced the retirement of 51 top officers.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Bola Koleoso
The senior officers were officially disengage from service on Tuesday.
One of those affected, Major Gen. M.D. Isah, was the former commander of the Army Infantry School, Jaji. He was redeployed after the twin bomb explosion at the protestant church which killed dozens of people.
The Army had after that incident set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the attack. The report however is yet to be released.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Brig.-Gen. Bola Koleoso, Director of Army Public Relations, said the retirement of the senior officers was in line with the harmonised “Terms and Condition of Services for Officers, revised in 2012’’
He said the 51 officers comprising 12 Major Generals, 24 Brigadier Generals and 15 Colonels, were notified earlier in the year of their impending retirement.
“Subsequently, the Army Council approved their retirement from service having attained the mandatory age for each rank.”
“Retirement from any noble profession, especially from the army, is considered a noble exit which every officer hopes and prays for.”
“To now turn round to give such a milestone exercise a negative flavour is, to say the least, mischievous.”
He said allegation of forceful retirements was being circulated through anonymous text messages, with the unidentified senders accusing the Army of ethnic and religious bias.
Koleoso advised any officer with reservations to appeal to the President through the Chief of Defence Staff using the Harmonized Terms and Condition of Services Officers, 2012 (Revised).
The spokesman also appealed to Nigerians to bear with the roadblocks and search operations of the army.
“The checkpoints are not without their delays and I want to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to please bear with us.
“We are trying our best to make sure that we get at undesirable elements before they strike.”
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