Major General Ibrahim Attahiru who has been named by President Mohammadu Buhari, as the new Chief of Army Staff, was in 2017 sacked by former Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Buratai for incompetence.

Attahiru was commander leading the fight against militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

His sack in 2017, was following a string of attacks by the insurgents, including the killing of at least 50 people in a mosque.

No official reason was given for Maj Gen Ibrahim Attahiru’s removal in 2017 but military sources told pointblanknews.com that military hierarchy were unsatisfied with his performance.

Army chief Gen Tukur Buratai gave him a deadline in July to deliver Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead or alive within 40 days.

At least 20,000 people have been killed and thousands more abducted since Boko Haram launched its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in
2009.

Maj Gen Attahiru Ibrahim was appointed to lead the offensive against Boko Haram in the north-east in May 2017. He has been replaced with another general, Nicholas Rogers, who led a special military and police force to tackle ethnic clashes in the volatile central region.

Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the rightful person for the appointment of Chief of Army Staff, was Major general Leo Irabor from Ika, in Delta State.

According to the sources, Buhari does not see a Southerner suitable for the position of a Chief of Army Staff as he would prefer the position be retained by a Northerner.

Irabor, is one-time Theatre Commander of the Operation Lafiya Dole.

Meanwhile, General Attahiru was born on August 10, 1966, and hails from Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Maj Gen Attahiru Ibrahim was appointed to lead the offensive against Boko Haram in the North-East in May 2017. He was later replaced by General Nicholas Rogers.

Before his appointment as the new Chief of Army Staff, he oversaw the 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

He replaces Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai who had served in that office since July 2015.