President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he appointed Major-General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff.
The Nation reports 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.
Until his 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 The Nation, 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.
Buhari further explained the choice of Yahaya was because he had the support and understanding of the troops.
