Irabor takes over as 17th Chief of Defence Staff

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Leo Irabor, on Friday, resumed office at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, The PUNCH has learnt.

Irabor took over from General Gabriel Olonisakin, the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff.

Announcing the change of baton, Olonisakin tweeted, “Today I formally hand over the baton of leadership as the CDS- AFN to Maj Gen LEO Irabor.

“I wish to sincerely appreciate the President, C-in-C (Commander-in-Chief) of the AFN (Armed Forces of Nigeria), and Nigerians for the privilege to serve this great country. I congratulate Maj Gen Irabor and wish him a successful tenure.”

The PUNCH had earlier reported the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), appointed four new service chiefs on Tuesday after much pressure from Nigerians that he bring in fresh hands to pilot the country’s anti-terrorism war.

The new service chiefs aside from Irabor are Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao as Chief of Air Staff.

The failure of the immediate-past service chiefs to conquer the insurgency war in the North-East had ignited the clamour for their removal and replacement with fresh hands.

The new service chiefs met with the President on Wednesday at Aso Villa in Abuja and Nigerians expect them to hit the ground running very fast.