UPDATED: Weeks after alleged coup plot, Tinubu changes military chiefs

President Bola Tinubu has sacked Christopher Musa, an army general, as the Chief of Defence Staff and appointed Olufemi Oluyede, former army chief, as his replacement.

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The president also appointed Waidi Shaibu, a general, as the new Chief of Army Staff while appointing new heads for the air force and the navy.

The changes were announced in a statement by presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the changes come weeks after 16 senior soldiers were arrested for allegedly planning a coup to overthrow the federal government. However, the statement did not attribute the changes to the alleged coup plot.

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The president retained E.A.P. Undiendeye, a major-general, as Chief of Defence Intelligence. He replaced Emmanuel Ogalla, the former Chief of Naval Staff, with Idi Abbas, a rear admiral. S.K. Aneke, an air vice marshal, was appointed to succeed Hassan Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.

“The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff,” the statement read. “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.”

Mr Tinubu thanked the sacked 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,” the statement added, noting the new appointments take immediate effect.

About the new service chiefs

Major General Waidi Shaibu

The new Chief of Army Staff, Mr Shaibu, previously served as the Theatre Commander for Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), a joint task force, in the North-east. He also served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division.

Renowned for his leadership in the fight against insurgency, he oversaw major operational successes and community support initiatives in Borno State. During his tenure, he prioritised the refurbishment of military hardware, led deep clearance operations in insurgent strongholds such as the Sambisa Forest, and placed strong emphasis on training in areas like IED mitigation.

Mr Shaibu also worked closely with local communities and traditional leaders to foster cooperation in counter-insurgency efforts. Before his appointment, he served as Deputy Commandant at the National Defence College and later moved to the Defence Space Agency after handing over command in April 2025.

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas

Mr Abbas, now the Chief of Naval Staff, previously served as the Chief of Naval Safety and Standards, a role he assumed in June 2023 after serving as the Director of Operations at Naval Headquarters.

His extensive naval career includes service aboard NNS AMBE, NNS ARADU, and NNS EKUN and participation in ECOMOG operations in Liberia in 1996. As Base Operations Officer of NNS PATHFINDER, he coordinated anti-illegal bunkering operations that significantly reduced maritime crime.

ALSO READ: Nigerian military speaks on report of alleged coup plot

A member of the 26th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1983. Mr Abbas trained at the Amphibious Warfare School, US Marine Corps University, and holds an MSc in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, which he obtained during his National Defence College Course 22.