Army Withdraws Soldiers From Ondo Tantita Coordinator After Allegations of Illegal Escort, Intimidation

The Nigerian Army has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all soldiers allegedly serving as personal escorts to Chief Idowu Asonja, the Ondo State coordinator of Tantita Security Services. The directive, issued by the Chief of Army Staff, follows reports that soldiers accompanied Asonja to nightlife outings, palace confrontations, and political events without official approval.
The decision comes amid rising tension in Okitipupa, where protesting Tantita workers accused Asonja of diverting salaries for two years and inflating payrolls with ghost names. Youths also alleged arson, assault, and disrespect toward traditional rulers, including the Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa. They demanded withdrawal of soldiers, relocation of Tantita’s office, a public apology to the monarch, and a full corruption probe. Evidence of alleged payroll fraud is set to be submitted to Tantita’s Delta headquarters.


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DINNING IN HONOUR: NIGERIAN ARMY CELEBRATES CADETS OF EC COURSE 2/2025 AT REGIMENTAL DINNER NIGHT

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu Nigerian Army Medal has commended cadets of Executive Commission Course 2/2025 for their tireless efforts, unwaivering dedication, and unrelenting passion for excellence as they prepare to commence a new phase of life in their career as commissioned officers. The COAS made this statement on Thursday, 4 December, 2025 at the regimental dinner night held at the AVM AO Ogundana Officers’ Mess Jaji in honour of the cadets.

The COAS speaking through the Commander Infantry Corps (CIC), Major General Godwin Mutkut noted that the cadets are coming into the Nigerian Army officers’ cadre at a most crucial period in the history of our nation. He added that the qualities imbued and knowledge gained will enhance their career.

Presenting the vote of thanks onbehalf of the cadets, the Battalion Senior Under Officer Suleiman Michika expressed the Nigerian Army for the opportunity to be commissioned as Officers and to the Nigerian Army School of Infantry for a rewarding training. He further stated that the cadets were ready to uphold the core values of the Nigerian Army.

The occasion brought Senior officers both serving and retired, especially past commandants of NASI and Commandants of NA schools within Kaduna and environs. The event climaxed with the presentation of souvenirs. Participants were treated to different cuisines to mark the ceremony.

SHAMSUDEEN UMAR
Captain
Acting Assistant Director
Army Public Relations
Nigerian Army School of Infantry
5 December 2025

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#HqNigerianArmy

Tinubu Sends New Ambassadorial List to Senate, Adds Ibas, Chioma Ohakim, Ita Enang, Dambazau

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, featuring several new additions not included in the earlier batch. The nominees include former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, ex-Imo First Lady Chioma Ohakim, former presidential aide Ita Enang, and ex-Chief of Army Staff Abdulrahman Dambazau. Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter during plenary and referred the list to the Foreign Affairs Committee for screening within a week. The new nominations follow recent appointments of Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Mahmood Yakubu, which sparked nationwide debate.

Gov Nasiru Idris of Kebbi expresses his appreciation to President Tinubu alongside the Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Army Staff and and other security agencies for their efforts. Minister of State Defence was also commended.

President Bola Tinubu top-level briefing is currently underway, attended by the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS and other government officials.

I am presently in a high-level security meeting with the heads of our defence and intelligence agencies, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the DSS, here at the State House.

We are assessing the latest security reports and taking firm measures to stabilise affected regions and safeguard our people. I am receiving continuous updates and have instructed all security formations to act with urgency, accuracy, and unwavering determination.

My commitment to the safety and security of every Nigerian is absolute. Anyone who seeks to disrupt the peace and endanger our nation will be met with the full force of the law.

Nigeria will stand strong.

- Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

Army denies alleged plan to force youths into the military service.

The Nigerian Army has rejected claims that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, is planning to forcibly recruit Nigerian youths aged 18 and above into military service.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the Acting Director of Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, called the viral report a “malicious fabrication” designed to mislead people and sow fear.

She stressed that at no point did the COAS threaten mandatory enlistment for youths who don’t volunteer.

She clarified that the COAS has never made any such statements in any official forum or public engagement.

The viral post also alleged that 10,000 soldiers recruited last year have gone missing, a claim the Army spokesperson dismissed as entirely unfounded.

Lt-Col. Anele emphasized that spreading false information of this nature is a criminal offense, and anyone involved could be tracked, apprehended, and prosecuted under the law.

The Nigerian Army further urged the public to rely solely on verified communication channels and official social media accounts for credible information.

Anele stressed that the Army remains committed to transparent recruitment processes and maintaining public trust.

However, the Nigeria Army recently announced plans to recruit a new batch of soldiers to strengthen national security.

Wike Rebukes Buratai for Comment on Clash With Naval Officer.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on Thursday criticised former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), accusing him of misinterpreting the altercation he had last Tuesday with naval officers led by Lt. A.M. Yerima.

Wike questioned Buratai’s claim that his conduct amounted to a national security threat and a slight on President Bola Tinubu. 

Addressing reporters at his Life Camp residence, he faulted the former Army chief for asking him to apologise to Lt. Yerima, insisting Buratai had no authority to lecture him on proper behaviour.

He also blamed Yerima for escalating the confrontation over a disputed plot in the Gaduwa District, which the FCT Administration says was illegally acquired by former Naval Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo. Wike accused the officer of obeying an unlawful directive.

Wike said: “I read what one former Chief of Army Staff wrote. He cannot tell me of decency and he can’t teach me. This was the same man who (allegedly) directed his GOC to rig election, my election in 2019. He couldn’t rig me. He lost.

He told his GOC to kill me and I could not be killed. He became an agent in APC primaries to one of APC’s presidential aspirants. Look at the rank of a polling agent. He is the one commenting that the minister did this and that. I have never seen people like this.

I have no regrets for my political opponents. I will continue to make them have sleepless nights. Whether you are in PDP, whether you are in APC, whether you are in ADC, it is not my business.

I have no regrets supporting President Tinubu and I have never hidden my intention and I will continue to do what is right. So, if you like to write anything you want to write, as far as I know, I am standing by the side of the law. If you like, bring every ethnicity coloration, it is your business”.

He urged all officials, regardless of status, to respect the rule of law at all times.

President Tinubu Reappoints Buba Marwa as NDLEA Chairman.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the appointment of Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for another five-year term.

The announcement was made on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

Marwa, first appointed by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021, previously served as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse between 2018 and 2020. His renewed tenure means he will lead the NDLEA until 2031.

An Adamawa-born retired military officer, Marwa is a former military governor of Lagos and Borno States and an alumnus of both the Nigerian Military School and the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1973, he held several key roles, including brigade major of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Aide-de-Camp to then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Theophilus Danjuma, and academic registrar of the NDA. He also served as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, and later as Defence Adviser to Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

Marwa holds two postgraduate degrees: a Master of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.

His time at the NDLEA has been marked by major successes, including the arrest of more than 73,000 drug traffickers and the seizure of over 15 million kilogrammes of illicit substances.

The agency has also intensified nationwide campaigns against drug abuse under his leadership.

President Tinubu praised Marwa’s achievements, describing his reappointment as a vote of confidence and urging him to continue pursuing drug cartels and traffickers seeking to endanger Nigerians, especially the youth.

"How can I sit quietly in my office when government officials, including directors, are being attacked and beaten?"
— Wike defends his clash with Lt. A.M. Yerima

Reacting to the recent incident involving a naval officer, Minister Nyesom Wike expressed concern about the safety and morale of government officials, saying:

“How can I effectively serve as a minister when government officials are being attacked and intimidated? These are public servants, yet they face threats while sitting in their offices, trying to perform their duties. How can they carry out their responsibilities if they feel unprotected?

“I’ve had calls from respected figures like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President and head of state, or General Theophilus Danjuma, who are retired generals. When they encounter a problem, they call a minister directly. There’s no intimidation, no threat just respect. And I ensure their issues are addressed promptly. That is how respect and protocol work.

“This is very different from situations where serving officers engage in acts of indiscipline. For instance, when a serving major general attacked a control, I immediately wrote a letter to the President and the Chief of Defence Staff, who was the Chief of Army Staff at the time, to address the matter. Everything falls under the authority and control of the military, and proper channels must be observed.

“Before I assumed office, contracts had been awarded to develop areas close to military barracks. Contractors were chased away. I intervened, involving the late Chief of Army Staff, Chief Olabanji, and other relevant defense officials, to find solutions without conflict. I have always respected established processes, and I continue to prioritize resolution through dialogue rather than confrontation.”

President Bola Tinubu received a security briefing from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, at the Presidential Villa — their first official meeting since Shaibu’s appointment and decoration. The briefing focused on the security situation in the North-East and other parts of the country.

Shaibu, who recently visited the region for an on-the-spot assessment, assured that Nigerians should expect improved security nationwide. The President had earlier charged all new service chiefs to deliver results, collaborate effectively, and tackle emerging threats in the North-Central, North-West, and South using modern technology.

“A Threat to National Security” — Buratai Slams Wike Over Clash with Naval Officer in Abuja

In a bold statement that has stirred national debate, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), has warned that the recent altercation between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a Nigerian Navy officer poses a “clear and present danger to national security.”

Buratai, writing on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, condemned Wike’s public confrontation with the officer, describing it as “a reckless act that undermines the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the integrity of the Armed Forces.”

The confrontation reportedly took place at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, over a disputed parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff.

According to reports, Wike—accompanied by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)—had arrived at the site to halt what he called an illegal construction. A viral video from the scene shows the minister angrily confronting the officer, declaring that “no one, not even the Chief of Naval Staff, is above the law.”

The unnamed officer, however, maintained that the land belonged to a former service chief and was under legitimate military protection.

Reacting to the viral footage, Buratai warned that Wike’s actions went beyond political theatrics.

“A minister’s verbal assault on a uniformed officer is an act of profound indiscipline that strikes at the foundation of our national security,” he said.

Buratai urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to view the situation as a serious national security concern, insisting that Wike must publicly apologize to the Commander-in-Chief, the Armed Forces, and the affected officer.

“Our nation’s security must come first. It is time for decisive action, not politics of military bashing,” Buratai added.

The incident continues to spark heated reactions across Nigeria, with military veterans and citizens debating the boundaries of ministerial authority and military respect under a democratic government.

Igala is a very small tribe when compared to some major tribes in Nigeria.

As the 25th Chief of Army Staff, we are very proud of your achievements and how far God has brought you. As a people, you have become the coolness of our eyes. We are happy to see Igala rise again to the helm of affairs.

Make sure you don’t fall in the manner other good intentioned Chief’s fell. Take control of your movements and trust nobody in the army.

The horse is prepared for the day of battle but safety is from the Lord. We will continue to pray for you always.

May God guide and protect you brother! congratulations

Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised seven terrorists and arrested 27 others in coordinated operations across the country in the last 48 hours. According to a statement on the Army’s official X handle, the operations were part of intensified efforts against terrorists, insurgents, and criminal networks, following directives from Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to dismantle all terror and criminal networks.

Ex-Army Chief Claims US May Be Planning to Establish Military Base in Nigeria.

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), has stated that the United States may be positioning itself to establish a military base in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at the 7th Annual Lecture organised by the Just Friends Club of Nigeria, Dambazau argued that recent claims by some foreign politicians and religious figures alleging the persecution of Christians in Nigeria could be driven by external strategic interests.

Dambazau, who also served as Minister of Interior, noted that the US previously operated military bases in Niger Republic for over a decade but failed to prevent the escalation of insecurity there.

“In the more than ten years of US presence in Niger, where it maintained two military bases, what did the US do to prevent the growth of security challenges?” he asked.

He added that during the early phase of Donald Trump’s return to office, members of the US Congress accused USAID of financing terrorism in Africa.

“I think the US is looking for an opportunity to establish an alternative base in Nigeria, a country known to protect only its interests by any means possible, including the use of force.

He warns that “unfortunately, they have willing partners in Nigeria.”

Dambazau maintained that terrorism in Nigeria is not targeted at any single religious group, stressing that both Muslims and Christians have suffered attacks.

Yahaya Bello under fire over use of Kogi State letterhead in letter to army chief.

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has come under intense criticism after posting and later deleting a congratulatory letter to the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, written on the official Kogi State Government letterhead despite no longer being in office.

The letter, which bore the state coat of arms and Bello’s signature as “Executive Governor,” triggered widespread outrage after being shared on social media. Critics accused the former governor of clinging to power and blurring the boundary between personal identity and state authority.

In the letter, Bello congratulated the new Army Chief but included a contentious line that quickly drew attention, “It gives me renewed hope that my worthy successor, His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, will now have you in his corner as he continues to tackle insecurity in his domain.”
Observers said the remark was problematic, as it suggested that the Chief of Army Staff could “belong” in a governor’s “corner,” a distortion of the military’s federal command structure.

The civic accountability platform @Kogi_Xcommunity first drew attention to the issue. In a viral post, the group wrote: “Yahaya Adoza Bello, former Governor of Kogi State, has deleted his personally signed letter to the new Chief of Army Staff after facing backlash from netizens.

Presidency Explains Sack of Defence Chief, Others, Says Move Is Routine.

The Presidency has clarified that the removal of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other service chiefs is a routine exercise aimed at strengthening national security.

Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare stated this in an interview with DAILY POST on Friday, following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of the new security appointments earlier in the day.

General Musa has been replaced by Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Other appointments include Major General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Dare explained that such changes are within the President’s constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief.

“This is routine, meant to boost security across the nation. The Commander-in-Chief can at any time make these changes to both ministerial and service chiefs. In the same way, commanding officers of mechanized divisions can be moved or removed,” he said.

The reshuffle in the military hierarchy comes amid unverified rumours of a possible coup, which both the Presidency and the Nigerian Army have dismissed as false.

Over 50 Generals To Go As Tinubu Sacks Service Chiefs.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday sacked the service chiefs and appointed their replacements.

The statement announcing their removal, signed by the special adviser to the president on media and public communication, Sunday Dare, said the action was taken in furtherance of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.

The President appointed former Army Chief, General Olufemi Oluyede, as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa.

The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshal S. K. Aneke becomes Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

President Tinubu expressed appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa, and the other service chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership.
The President urged the newly appointed service chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them and to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“All appointments take immediate effect,” the statement said.
Those sacked with General Musa are the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that yesterday’s changes mark the second major reshuffle of the military high command since President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
Yesterday’s change comes amid growing public outcry as the country continues to battle terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent crime across several regions.

General Musa and those asked to leave with him had been in office since June 2023 and oversaw several major operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed bandits in the North-East and North-West.
Security analysts are unanimous that their tenure recorded significant gains.

Despite that, continued attacks and killings in different parts of the country had fuelled calls for a change in strategy and leadership.

The changes also came a few days after widespread rumours of an attempted coup to unseat President Tinubu surfaced in the media.

Though the Defence Headquarters denied it, saying there was no such attempt, yesterday’s sacking of the

service chiefs may lend credence to the alleged coup plot.

“Their sacking is as a result of losing the loyalty of those working with them. When a commander loses the loyalty of his men, then there is no need for him to remain the commander,” a security officer told one of our correspondents.

The Igala nation stands tall and proud, celebrating her illustrious sons who have attained the highest leadership positions within the Nigerian Armed Forces. Their remarkable achievements reflect courage, discipline, and commitment to national service.

Late Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi – Former Chief of Defence Staff (1999–2003), from Dekina Local Government Area.

Air Marshal Isaac Alfa (Rtd.) – Former Chief of Air Staff (1999–2001), from Ankpa Local Government Area.

Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin (Rtd.) – Former Chief of Naval Staff (2014–2015), from Dekina Local Government Area.

Major General Waidi Shaibu – Appointed Chief of Army Staff (October 24), from Olamaboro Local Government Area.

God bless Nigeria.
God bless Kogi State.
God bless Igala Land.

: igala4real

#kogiglobalmedia
#OneKogi
#KogiState

The Newly Appointed Chief of Army Staff Major General Waidi Shuaibu.