Meet Maj. General Yahaya, Nigeria’s New Chief of Army Staff

Major General Farouk Yahaya is now Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff following his appointment by the country’s leader Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

Mr Yahaya replaces the late Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru who recently died in a plane crash en-route Kaduna State along with other senior officers and crew members.

The new army chief hails from northwestern Zamfara State. He was born on January 5, 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State and is of Regular Course 37 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He commenced his cadet training on September 27 1985 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22, 1990.

Yahaya has held several appointments including Staff, Instructional and Command.

He was the Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.

He also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya); Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) Headquarters 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.

By Abel Ejikeme

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