President Tinubu Sacks Service Chiefs Amidst Coup Rumours

A major shake-up in Nigeria’s security architecture, approved by President Bola Tinubu on Friday, has generated significant public debate, with a strong current of opinion linking the decision to recent, widely circulated but officially denied, military coup rumours.

Dependable NG reports that the presidential action, which included the dismissal of all Service Chiefs, followed closely on the heels of social media buzzing last week with unconfirmed reports of an attempted military coup. While the Nigerian Army had publicly and strongly debunked these rumours—which suggested the arrest of soldiers connected to the alleged plot—the sudden nature of the President’s decision has fueled public speculation.

Barely seven days after the reports surfaced across several online newspapers, President Bola Tinubu on Friday announced the sweeping changes to the military high command. The official statement released by his media aide, Sunday Dare, stated the move was in furtherance of the government’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.

The new appointments saw General Olufemi Oluyede named as the Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. Major-General W. Shaibu was appointed the new Chief of Army Staff. In the same vein, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke became the Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.

Many citizens immediately took to social media platforms to express their views, largely alleging that the President’s swift dismissal of the Service Chiefs was a direct reaction to the alleged coup plot to overthrow his government, rather than a routine review of national security performance. This sentiment reflected a deep public concern that the government prioritises regime stability over addressing the escalating security challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians.

Reactions gathered from X (formerly Twitter) highlight this public perception:

• @abbkar_ai: “The killings of innocent citizens on a daily basis by bandits and Boko Haram were not enough to prompt the removal of the Service Chiefs, yet a mere coup plot against the President suddenly became the reason for their dismissal. It’s heartbreaking that the lives of ordinary Nigerians mean so little until power itself feels threatened.”
• @ennyola0015: “The coup d’état rumor turned out to be true. President Tinubu’s decision to sack the service chiefs wasn’t merely precautionary; it was a bold and assertive move.”
• @mni_JJ: “They have confirmed that the coup attempt was real. Service chiefs, including the Southern Kaduna star boy, have been dismissed.”
• @Maibitil_: “The innocent citizens who were brutally killed by bandits, along with the security personnel murdered by Boko Haram, were not enough to sack the Service Chiefs until a coup plot against his poor Govt was revealed. What a callous and avaricious intoxicated leader.”

While the presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, insisted that the move was solely aimed at boosting “security across the nation,” the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has publicly demanded that President Tinubu offer a clear, transparent explanation for the abrupt shake-up. The party noted that the timing, following widespread coup rumours, demands open communication to reassure Nigerians about the stability of the nation’s democracy, adding that this kind of decision suggests serious underlying reasons beyond routine administrative changes.