Army Redeploys Senior Officers In Major Shake-Up

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday announced the appointments and new postings of some senior officers in a major shake-up.

In the shake-up, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya was appointed as the new Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) to take over from the erstwhile theatre commander, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi.

Yahaya, who was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Kaduna, will hand over to Maj.-Gen. Usman Muhammed, the erstwhile Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Army Headquarters.

The development was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, yesterday in Abuja.

Musa said the new appointments and postings were approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. TukurBuratai, to reinvigorate the system for greater professional effectiveness and efficiency.

According to Musa, Maj.-Gen. ACC Agundu was posted from Special Task Force (STF) Operation SAFE HAVEN, Jos to Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja as senior research fellow. He disclosed that Maj.-Gen. HI Bature from Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Defence Liaison Office National Assembly, Abuja had been appointed the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs.

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Musa added that Maj.-Gen. UM Mohammed was redeployed from Nigerian Army Property Limited (NAPL) to take over from Maj.-Gen. CC Okonkwo as the special adviser to the Chief of Army Staff on Nigerian Army University Biu/Deputy Chairman Board of Trustees, NAPL.

He added that the erstwhile Special Adviser to COAS on NAUB, Maj.-Gen. CC Okonkwo, now becomes the commander of STF Operation SAFE HAVEN, Jos.

According to him, the erstwhile theatre commander of OPLD, Adeniyi has been redeployed to NARC as senior research fellow, while Maj.-Gen. S.Idris from Sector 2, OPLD,Damaturu has been redeployed to DHQ, Abuja and appointed liaison director.

“Others affected officers include Maj.-Gen. AA Adesope from Office of the Chief of Army Staff Directorate of Audit and Financial Management to NAPL as the group managing director.

“Maj.-Gen. MG Ali is redeployed from Headquarters Theatre Command, OPLD, Maiduguri to Headquarters 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, Nasarawa State as commander,” he said.

Similarly, Brig.-Gen. HI Daniel from the Defunct Army Special Forces Command, Maiduguri to Headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command, Minna and appointed director of Army Training Support.

“Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko is to remain in DHQ, Abuja as Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, while Brig.-Gen. NM Jega moves from TRADOC, Minna to Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji as chief of staff.

“Brig.-Gen. LA Araba from Nigerian Army Welfare Limited, Abuja now redeployed to Sector 2, OPLD, Damaturu, Yobe as acting commander, while Brig.-Gen VO Ita moves from DHQ, Abuja to Headquarters 402 Special Forces Brigade, Azare as commander.

“While Brig.-Gen JAL Jimoh moves from Sector 3 Artillery Brigade, OPLD,Monguno to Headquarters 31 Brigade, Minna as commander, Brig.-Gen GTO Ajetunmobi has been redeployed from 31 Brigade, Minna to Nigeria Army Welfare Limited, Abuja as executive director in charge of operation,” Musa said.

He further disclosed that Brig.-Gen. LG Lepdung would move from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre ,Jaji, to DHQ, Abuja as Deputy Director, Procurement (Logistics), while Brig.-Gen. MO Ihanuwaze would remain in the Office of the COAS Directorate of Audit and Financial Management as acting director.

Brig.-Gen. EC Obi-Osangwill moved from the defunct Headquarters 707 Special Forces’ Brigade,Makurdi to Headquarters 401 Special Forces’ Brigade, Makurdi as commander. Brig.-Gen GM Mutkut was redeployed from the Defunct Nigerian Army Amphibious Command, OPLD, Baga to Headquarters 403 Amphibious Brigade, Baga as commander. Brig. Gen. JR Lar was redeployed from Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia, to Sector 3 Artillery Brigade OPLD Monguno as commander.

According to the statement, “Col. DJ Abdullahi moves from the defunct Special Forces’ Command, Maiduguri to Headquarters 4 Special Forces’ Command, Doma, Nasarawa State as acting chief of staff.

“Col. EC Emere moves from Nigerian Army Archives to Nigerian Military School, Zaria as Deputy Commandant and Col. MO Agi is to remain in Headquarters, Nigerian Army Armour Corps, Bauchi as acting chief of staff, among others.”All the postings and appointments are to take effect from the 1st of April 2020.