The National Security Adviser to the President , Maj . -Gen Babagana Monguno ( retd . ) , has said some funds meant for the purchase of arms to strengthen the country’ s anti -terror war got missing under the leadership of the ex – service chiefs .
The ex – service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff , General Abayomi Olonisakin ( retd . ); Chief of Army Staff , Lt -Gen . Tukur Buratai ( retd . ); Chief of Naval Staff , Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas ( retd . ); and Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar ( retd . ) .
The NSA, in an interview with BBC Hausa on Friday, said , “ No one knows what happened to the money but by God ’ s grace , the president will investigate to find out whether the money was spent and where the arms went. ”
The NSA also added that the new service chiefs have not seen any of the arms that the funds were supposed to be used to procure .
President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Buratai , Olonisakin, Ibas and Abubakar in July 2015 but the Commander- In -Chief replaced them in January 2021 after a persistent clamour from Nigerians that he introduce fresh blood in the country’ s anti – terror war , especially against Boko Haram in Nigeria ’ s North -East region .
The new service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff , General Lucky Irabor ; Chief of Army Staff , Lieutenant -General Ibrahim Attahiru ; Chief of Naval Staff ; Vice Admiral A . Z Gambo ; and Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the NSA said on Thursday at a State House Briefing in Aso Villa, Abuja , that the President has released a lot of funds for the military to purchase firepower and win the insurgency fight.
Monguno had also said that the Buhari- regime was not interested in dialogue with terrorists , bandits and other criminals as negotiation paints the government as weak and incapable.
The NSA, therefore , vowed that the military , headed by the new chiefs has what it takes to crush the enemies of the Nigerian state without the help of mercenaries .
