Why Service Chiefs Were Sacked
— Jul 14, 2015 6:15 am | 0 Comments
Not a few security observers saw the above changes coming, especially since the president and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have consistently condemned the failure of the military to tame the monster of terrorism under the watch of the last administration.
A former military officer, who did not want his name published, said: “The only surprise about the appointment of the new service chiefs is that it came later than expected. We all know that General Buhari was not happy with the way and manner the terrorists have been killing and maiming the people and what people were expecting was the immediate sack of the service chiefs on the day he was inaugurated, but that did not happen until today (yesterday). Buhari may have been biding his time in doing so.”
Interestingly, the inherited service chiefs, too, had been expecting the hammer. A personal aide to one of them had told our correspondent three weeks ago that his boss was ready to go but was waiting for the president to act.
He had said: “My principal and other service chiefs know that President Buhari will sack them but they are only waiting for him to do so in order to prevent a situation where they could be accused of walking out on him. We all know what he said about them during the campaign.
“He came and ordered them to relocate to Borno State. Have you ever heard the military top hierarchy relocating to the heart of the battle? Maybe this man wanted to humiliate them. Some of us are even thinking they would submit their papers but we were told it is not done that way.”
LEADRSHIP reports that since the emergence of President Buhari, there had been renewed onslaught by the deadly sect Boko Haram and no fewer than 500 innocent people have been killed by suicide bombers and gunmen in some states in the Northern part of the country. They include:
July 12 – two IEDs planted at ECWA Church, Jos, were uncovered but there was no casualty.
July 7 – A teenage suicide bomber killed 2-year-old, 25 others in Zaria.
July 5 – 52 persons killed in twin explosions in Jos, Plateau State. The police said the attacks were carried out by two female suicide bombers.
July 5 – Six persons killed in an explosion at a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish in Potiskum, Yobe State.
July 3 – 29 killed in Mussa Village in Askira-Uba LGA, Borno
July 2 – 11 killed at Malari Village along Bama/Konduga Highway, Borno
July 1 – 98 killed in Kukawa village, Borno
June 30 – 48 killed in Mussaram I and Mussaram II in Monguno LGA, Borno
June 27 – Five killed at Molai General Hospital, Borno State
June 23 – 20 killed in Debiro, Hawul LGA, Borno
June 23 – 15 killed in suicide attack in Gujba LGA, Borno
June 22 – Eight killed in twin bombings at the Baga fish market, Maiduguri
June 17 – 63 people died in Monguno after accidental explosion
June 15 – 11 persons killed in twin suicide bombings in Potiskum
June 11 – 37 killed as Boko Haram attacks Borno communities
June 7 – Three dead in suicide bombing on Baga/Monguno highway
June 5 – 40 dead in suicide attack on Jimeta Modern Market, Yola
June 4 – Two die in suicide bombing near military checkpoint in Maiduguri
June 3 – Four killed in Baga attack
June 2 – 50 killed in Maiduguri abattoir bombing
May 31 – Four killed at Gamboru market, Maiduguri
May 30 – 26 killed in Borno mosque explosion
May 30 – 13 killed in attempted attack on Maiduguri
