The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of a leadership vacuum concerning personnel postings and promotions while the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is on annual leave. In a statement released by the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, he addressed what he termed “social media stories, rumors, and innuendoes” regarding the situation within the Army.
Nwachukwu clarified that while some of the circulating stories were trivial, others were mischievous attempts to incite panic and confusion among both military personnel and the public. He emphasized that the Army has well-established procedures for managing such circumstances, stating that Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalami Ibrahim, Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), is acting on behalf of the COAS during his absence.
The director also noted that allegations of a leadership vacuum are unfounded, affirming that all routine and scheduled activities within the Army are proceeding as planned.