Responding to Rising Terrorist Attacks, Nigeria Reshuffles Army Top Brass

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers of the Nigerian Army to command, instructional and staff appointments across Nigerian Army formations and units.

In a statement by Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the reshuffle is “an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army for operational efficiency and proficiency.”

However, the changes may be connected with the recent upsurge in terrorist activities across the country, especially around the capital city Abuja and environs.

In the past few weeks, there’s been an attack on the Kuje Prisons in the FCT, with hundreds of terrorists set free.

Military personnel have been attacked with soldiers attached to the Presidential Guards Brigade killed.

The president’s advance convoy was attacked en route Katsina during the last Muslim holidays, while priests have been abducted and killed in different parts of the country.

All these are in addition to previous high profile terrorist attacks earlier in the year, from the killing and abduction of passengers on a Kaduna-bound train in the country’s Northwest on March 28, to the brutal massacre of dozens of church goers in Owo, Ondo Stae in the country’s southwest on June 5.

Terrorists have also boldly threatened to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as other high-ranking government officials.

A few days ago, the Senate issued a 6-week ultimatum to President Buhari, to find solutions to insecurity across the country, or face impeachment.

Those affected in the Army redeployment released on Thursday, include some Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters, General Officers Commanding, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, among others.

Some of the senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Major General UT Musa from Headquarters 81 Division to Headquarters 82 Division and appointed GOC; Major General TA Lagbaja from Headquarters 82 Division to Headquarters 1 Division and appointed GOC; Major General OC Ajunwa from Nigeria Defence Section Brasilia to HQ 81 Division and appointed GOC; while Major General AS Chinade was redeployed from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 2 Division and appointed GOC.

The newly appointed Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers include, Maj Gen OW Ali, from Headquarters Command Army Records to Army Headquarters Department of Army Administration and appointed Chief of Administration (Army); Maj Gen S Muhammed, from Defence Headquarters to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army); Major General JA Ataguba, from Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Peace Keeping Operations; Major General AA Adesope, from Headquarters Nigerian Army Finance Corps to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget; and Major General US Mohammed, from Army Headquarters Department of Administration to Nigerian Army Resource Centre and appointment Senior Research Fellow.

Other senior officers affected in the redeployment are Major General PB Fakrogha, from Defence Headquarters Garrison to Defence Space Agency and appointed Director Policy Plans and Research; Major General MO Enendu, from Nigerian Army College of Logistics to Defence Headquarters and appointed Director Psychological Warfare; Major General AE Attu from Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Training and Operations to Defence Headquarters Garrison and appointed Commander; and Major General BE Onyeuko, from Defence Headquarters Directorate of Defence Media Operations to Defence Headquarters Department of Logistics and appointed Director Procurement

The newly appointed Corps Commanders are, Major General AM Alabi, from Nigerian Army Ordnance School to Headquarters Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps and appointed Corps Commander Ordnance; Major General A Mohammed, from Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches Limited to Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers and appointed Corps Commander Electrical Mechanical Engineers; Major General E Akerejola, from Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Transport and appointed Commander Corps of Supply and Transport; and Major General AA Fayemiwo, from Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings Limited by Guarantee to Headquarters Finance Corps and appointed Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army).

Senior officers newly appointed as Commandants of Nigerian Army Training Institutions are Major General PI Eze, from Defence Headquarters Department of Procurement to Nigerian Army Ordinance School and appointed Commandant; Major General AA Adeyinka from Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics to Nigerian Army College of Logistics and appointed Commandant; Major General PP Malla, from Army Headquarters Department of Army Administration to Depot Nigerian Army and appointed Commandant; as well as Brigadier General UT Otaru from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport and appointed Acting Commandant.

The newly appointed Brigade Commanders are, Brigadier General DH Ndahi, from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Headquarters 4 Brigade and appointed Commander; Brig Gen FS Etim, from Amphibious Training School to Headquarters 6 Brigade and appointed Commander; Brigadier General EA Orakwe, from Headquarters 6 Division to Headquarters 19 Brigade and appointed Commander; Brigadier General JO Are, from Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Headquarters 3 Brigade and appointed Commander, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff directed all the newly appointed senior officers to redouble their efforts and commitment to duty in tackling the security challenges bedevilling the nation, as they assume their new appointments.

Demola Ojo

Follow us on: