Why I appointed Yahaya COAS - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has for the first time given reasons for the appointment of Major-General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.

Yahaya replaced Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash with ten other military personnel while on an official trip to Kaduna State.

Prior to this appointment, the new army chief was the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the counter-insurgency operation in the North-east.

Buhari, during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday monitored by MyNigeria.com, explained Yahaya was appointed as the Chief of army staff ahead of other superiors because of his experience fighting Boko Haram in the North-east.

The appointment of Yahaya had created controversy and speculations that there is going to be a mass retirement of some generals in the Nigerian Army but the Defence Headquarters refuted the reports, The Nations said.

Buhari further explained the choice of Yahaya was because he had the support and understanding of the troops.