Chief Of Army Staff resignation: Nigerian Army reacts

The Nigerian Army has vehemently denied a report that falsely claimed the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Taoreed Lagbaja, has tendered his resignation from his position.

The Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, clarified that the report is entirely baseless and should be disregarded.

It is understood that the report claimed that Lagbaja had submitted his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu.

However, reacting to the online report, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the report on Lagbaja’s resignation should be disregarded.

“It is fake news; please disregard it,” Nwachukwu was quoted to have said to Punch about the report.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has issued a fresh directive to security agencies in the country to go after cyber criminals and other organized crime groups.

President Tinubu said security and law enforcement agencies — including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), must intensify efforts in cracking down on individuals in possession of and trafficking in stolen vehicles.

He stressed that Nigeria is not a destination for stolen vehicles or other ill-gotten wealth.

The President made the declaration in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while reacting to the recent handover of 53 vehicles and $180,300 by the EFCC to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), on behalf of two Canadian citizens who were victims of cybercrimes perpetrated by Nigerian nationals.

While commending the EFCC for its efforts, President Tinubu further assured of the commitment of his administration to fighting all criminals and their activities.