By Odita Sunday, Abuja
In accordance with military tradition, the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has officially been pulled out of the Nigerian Army in a colourful parade at Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja.
The event, which involved a march past by the officers of the Nigerian Army, was attended by some past Chiefs of Army Staff, current Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, representatives of other Services and Faruk’s Regular Course mates.
After the parade put together by the Headquarters Garrison, Yahaya and his wife were pulled out of the barracks in a motorcade, after which they were driven out in their private car.
Born on January 5, 1966, in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Council of Sokoto State, Yahaya, who is a member of the 37 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), started his cadet training on September 27, 1985, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22, 1990. He held several Staff, Instructional and Command appointments.
Meanwhile, in an effort to reposition the Nigerian Army (NA) for operational efficiency and functional administration, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieut. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved the posting and appointment of some senior officers to command, instructional and staff appointments across NA formations and units.
According to Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Emeka Nwachukwu, those affected in the recent redeployment include some Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders, Commanding Officers, amongst others.
“Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs of the AHQ include Maj. Gen. AB Ibrahim, who was posted from Headquarters 3 Division NA to the Department of Policy and Plans (DAPP) and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army); Maj. Gen. BR Sinjen, posted from Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) to the Department of Army Operations (DAOPs) and appointed Chief of Operations (Army) and Maj. Gen. OR Aiyenigba, posted from Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army).
Others are Maj. Gen. NC Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs and Maj. Gen. E Akerejola from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).
“Senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) are Maj. Gen. BA Alabi from Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC; Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/ Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and Maj. Gen. PP Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 7 Division as GOC/Commander Sector 1 Joint Task North East (NE) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
Others are Maj. Gen. GU Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena (MNJTF) to Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE Operation (OPHK) and appointed Theatre Commander, while Maj. Gen. IS Ali was redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander and Maj. Gen. EAP Undiandeye whose redeployment from Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre to Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.
Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj. Gen. OO Oluyede as the Commander Infantry Corps; Maj. Gen. MG Kangye from Department of Civil Military Affairs (DCMA) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander. Others are Maj. Gen. AA Adeyinka from Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport and appointed Commander.
Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Maj. Gen. KO Aligbe, who is appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command; Maj. Gen. JO Ochai, from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and appointed Commandant; Maj. Gen. IB Maina posted from Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Nigeria and appointed Commandant.
Equally redeployed are Brig. Gen. TB Ugiagbe, who was appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army); Brig. Gen. OG Onubogu from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Martin Luther Agwai International Peace Keeping Centre as Commandant, while Brig. Gen. N Ashinze moves from Department of Civil Military Cooperation to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.
The Nigerian Army has also formalised the redeployment of Col. AO Onasanya from Army War College Nigeria to Headquarters Guards Brigade as Acting Commander.
“The Chief of Army Staff has directed all newly appointed senior officers to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security, as they assume their new appointments,” the statement added.
Source: The Guardian