President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sacked service chiefs and made changes in the hierarchy of the military leadership, amidst recent rumours of a coup d-etat in the country.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, disclosed in a State House press release dated October 24, 2025.
According to Mr. Dare, the move was in furtherance of President Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen the national security architecture, noting that the President has appointed new ones in their stead.
According to the statement, Tinubu appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.
The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu.
Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.
Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye, retains his position.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.
“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“All appointments take immediate effect,” the statement concluded.
“Evidence” of coup
It could be recalled that rumours of coup recently filtered into the mediasphere.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), on October 18, reported that the Nigerian Armed Forces detained 16 senior military officers over allegations of plotting a coup d’etat to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The arrested officers ranged from a Captain to a Brigadier General.
The military top brass in a statement some days ago, however, linked the detention of the officers to “repeated failure in promotion examinations and perceived career stagnation”.
A source, however, insisted that the rumour is real and even mentioned the state origin of the alleged coup plotters.
The states are as follows:
1. Borno
2. Kano
3. Kaduna
4. Delta
5. Kogi
6. Adamawa
7. Nasarawa
8. Plateau
9. Zamfara
10. Katsina
Pundits say the latest move by President Tinubu is a confirmation of the coup d’etat rumour.