Moses Ofodeme
The Nigerian Army on Tuesday, March 31; announced the removal of the army commander of its counter-terrorism operations in the country’s restive northeast.
A spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Sagir Musa said in a statement that Major General Olusegun Adeniyi was taken from command of the military operation and “redeployed” to an army research institute.
He said the move was approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Brutai as “a routine/normal exercise for greater professional effectiveness and efficiency.”
Adeniyi was replaced by an army division commander in the country’s northwest, Major General Faruk Yahaya.
Some senior military officers told the press on condition of anonymity that the removal of Adeniyi was prompted by the recent killing of 47 soldiers and officers.
This was in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists in the country’s volatile northeast region on March 22.
Security expert Mike Ejiafor said the replacement could have been made for tactical reasons.
“It could be for tactical reasons, though the army didn’t say so,” he revealed from the capital Abuja.
Ejiafor also cited recent comments by Adeniyi decrying supplies and intelligence shortages in a video that went viral across the country.
