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Mass Abductions Trigger Shock Move As Army Suspends Retirement Of Senior Officers.
The Nigerian Army has ordered an immediate suspension of statutory and voluntary retirements for specific categories of officers as the nation intensifies its response to the worsening security crisis declared a national emergency by President Bola Tinubu.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the decision follows a sharp rise in violent attacks and mass abductions, with more than 600 kidnapping cases recorded in November alone. Key incidents include the abduction of over 300 students in Niger State, 38 worshippers in Kwara, and 25 students in Kebbi, heightening public anxiety and prompting urgent government action.
President Tinubu had on November 26 declared a nationwide security emergency, directing the Armed Forces, police, and intelligence agencies to expand recruitment and deploy thousands of additional personnel to stem the escalating wave of kidnappings and terrorism.
An internal memo dated December 3 and issued by Maj. Gen. E. I. Okoro on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff confirmed the suspension of retirements. The directive stressed the need to retain experienced hands as the military boosts operational capacity to confront the deepening security challenges.
The memo cited provisions of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service Officers (HTACOS) 2024, explaining that although officers typically retire after reaching age limits, completing 35 years of service, or failing promotions or conversion boards, extensions are allowed under Paragraph 3.10(e) when required for operational reasons.
The document stated that the security emergency and the mandate to expand manpower necessitated the temporary halt of all statutory and voluntary retirements with immediate effect. The suspension applies to officers who have failed promotion examinations or conversion boards three times, those passed over at promotion boards three times, those who have reached their rank age limits, and those who have attained 35 years of service.
The Army noted that officers affected by the new directive may apply to remain in service beyond their scheduled retirement dates. However, those who choose to continue will not be eligible for promotions, career courses, sponsorships, secondments, or extra-regimental appointments.
Commanders have been instructed to ensure full dissemination of the policy and manage the morale of affected personnel. The Army added that the directive would be reviewed as the security situation evolves.
Reactions from veterans and retired senior officers have largely supported the decision. The Secretary-General of the Military Veterans Federation of Nigeria, Awwal Abdullahi, described the move as timely and logical, arguing that prematurely retiring highly trained personnel wastes public investment and weakens the military’s experience base. He noted that instead of dismissing senior officers whenever their juniors are appointed service chiefs, they could be reassigned to strategic roles within the Defence Headquarters.
Retired Brigadier General Peter Aro also endorsed the suspension, calling it a rational short-term measure to stabilise command structures, especially in active operations. He emphasised that while the voluntary nature of the extension was commendable, the military must provide enhanced welfare and financial incentives to motivate officers who cannot advance in rank during the extended period.
Another retired officer, Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi, supported the decision, describing continued service beyond retirement as both a privilege and a national duty. He dismissed fears that officers who failed promotions would struggle under junior commanders, insisting that established structures would prevent such conflicts.
Brigadier General George Emdin similarly backed the suspension but urged the military to abandon the long-standing tradition of retiring officers once their coursemates rise to service chief positions, arguing that the practice deprives the nation of valuable expertise. However, he objected to retaining officers who consistently fail promotion examinations, warning that such retention could undermine operational effectiveness.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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