Tinubu sacks service chiefs amid coup plot rumours, sparking social media reactions as Nigerians debate reasons behind the sudden military shake-up

Tinubu sacks service chiefs in what many Nigerians are describing as one of the boldest security shake-ups of his presidency, coming just days after widespread rumours of an attempted military coup in Nigeria.

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President Bola Tinubu on Friday announced the replacement of all service chiefs, a move that has sparked intense debate across social media platforms.

The announcement followed a week of speculation about a coup plot that the Nigerian Army had firmly denied.

According to a statement from the President’s media aide, Sunday Dare, the newly appointed military heads include Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

While the Presidency maintained that the shake-up was aimed at boosting national security and operational efficiency, many Nigerians online have linked it to the alleged coup plot that dominated headlines last week.

Several social media users expressed divergent views, with some describing the move as a defensive measure and others calling it politically motivated.

One user on X (formerly Twitter), @abbkar_ai, wrote: “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.”

Another commentator, @ennyola0015, viewed it differently, saying: “The coup d’état rumour 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.”

Others were more critical, suggesting the decision was rooted in political considerations rather than performance. @mindaffairss claimed:

“Lie about a fake coup so you can replace the few service chiefs from the North with your kinsmen from the SW. Federal Republic of APC Yoruba version.”

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Despite the wave of online speculation, the Presidency insists that the reshuffle is part of President Tinubu’s strategic effort to strengthen national defence and restore public confidence in the country’s security system.