Without much anticipation, President Muhammadu Buhari, at long last on Monday, quietly eased out his service chiefs and replaced them with new Officers. They were said to have tendered their letters of resignation to the President.

They were immediately replaced by Maj Gen LEO Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj Gen I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Adm A. Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff and AVM I.O. Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

Those relieved of their appointments are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser Media and Publicity, to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President Buhari thanked the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.

The relieved Service Chiefs were appointed in July 2015 by President Buhari

The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu is due for statutory retirement next month when it is expected his replacement will be also be named.

Welcoming the new Service Chiefs on board, President Buhari “congratulates and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities” the statement said.

There have been persistent calls for the relief of the service chiefs from their duties, by many Nigerians following the deterioration of the security situation in the country.

The calls became more strident against the background that the service chiefs had crossed the mandatory retirement age or and have put in more than the statutory years of service.

But the President remained unyielding despite the deteriorating security situation especially in the North East where Boko Haram refused to be subdued by the Nigerian Armed forces under the outgoing service chiefs, Nigerians called for a change of tactics which a change in personnel could engender.