The newly appointed service chiefs have been mandated by the House of Representatives committee on the army to devise fresh ideas on tackling insurgency and banditry in the country.

The newly appointed service chiefs have been mandated by the House of Representatives committee on the army to devise fresh ideas on tackling insurgency and banditry in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari had yesterday endorsed the former Service Chiefs’ immediate resignation and appointed new chiefs after several calls had been made.

The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, made the call on Tuesday while welcoming the newly appointed service chiefs. Namdas said, “We urge the new service chiefs to come out with a new strategy to curb banditry and insurgency.”

He also commended the President and former service chiefs for heeding the people’s plea and the parliament’s advice.
“We thank the service chiefs for resigning and especially President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting their resignation and promptly appointing new service chiefs to hit the ground running,” he stated.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, those resigned and retired 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.

He noted that “President Buhari thanks the outgoing 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 endeavors.

“The new Service Chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

“The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
Meanwhile, some experts have commended President Muhammadu Buhari on appointing new service chiefs who they believe will benefit the populace.

Prof.Isaac Albert, Director, Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, said that Buhari had responded to Nigerians’ yearnings by the removal of the service chiefs.

However, he noted that the removal of the service chiefs only would not solve the security challenges facing the country. He emphasized a need to address other challenges, such as inadequate equipment and military personnel.

Albert also called on the military to enhance their rapport with the community they operate. He explained that terrorism and banditry could not be defeated without first gaining the people’s minds, where they work.

Mr. Oladimeji Adebayo, a human rights lawyer, who also spoke on the development, expressed optimism that with the appointment of new service chiefs, the country’s security situation would improve.
According to him, “I think they are going to do their best and justify the confidence imposed on them by Nigerians.

“We expect to improve the security situation in the country now,” Adebayo said.