Former Chief Of Defence Staff, Gen. Irabor Pulls Out Of Service

The immediate past Chief Of Defence Staff (COAS), General Lucky Irabor, has pulled out of the service of the Nigeria Armed Forces following the appointment of new Service Chiefs.

Naija News reports that Irabor pulled out of the service in a short ceremony held at Mogadishu Cantonment, popularly known as Abacha Barracks, Abuja, on Friday.

The event, a military tradition honoring retiring Generals, was attended by top-ranking military officials including the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major General CG Musa, Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen TA Lagbaja, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar.

Notable dignitaries at the parade included Governor Sheriff Oborewori of Delta State, Mr. Boss Mustapha, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and past Chiefs of Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Staff.

Among them were Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (rtd), Gen Alexander Ogomudia, Gen Martins Agwai, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, and Gen Olonisakin (rtd), as well as Irabor’s 34 Regular Course mates.

General Lucky Irabor, born on October 5, 1965, hails from Ika South in Delta State and is a member of regular course 34 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He was appointed Chief of Defence Staff by Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, 2021. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Chief of Defence, Training, and Operations (CDTOP) at the Defence Headquarters.

General Irabor is a distinguished graduate of the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, the National Defence College in Bangladesh, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Executive Programme in the USA.

Recall that Irabor, on June 23, handed over the command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa.

In his remarks, Irabor urged his successor to ensure the value and professional standards of the military were upheld, adding that his successor is a tested and trusted officer and a role model for the Armed Forces.

Irabor asserted that quite a lot had been achieved and was confident that the armed forces were in the right mood to achieve set targets.

He said: “I appreciate the president for finding Maj.-Gen. Musa a very suitable to take over the reins of the Armed Forces.

“I ask that you redouble your efforts to maintain the cherished values and professional standard.“