The Nigerian Army has reshuffled its senior leadership, redeploying several top officers and appointing new commanders to key operational and administrative positions.
Under the changes approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, Maj.-Gen. IA Ajose has been appointed the new Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI.
Ajose, who previously served at the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Operations, takes over from Maj.-Gen. AE Abubakar, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, announced the appointments in a statement on Wednesday, saying the changes were aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and aligning the Army’s command structure with the evolving security environment.
Maj.-Gen. AM Alechenu has also been moved from the Defence Headquarters Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Maj.-Gen. RT Utsaha becomes Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison, following his redeployment from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Standards and Evaluation.
Maj.-Gen. AM Umar has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters, Department of Civil-Military Affairs, to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant.
He is replaced at the Department of Civil-Military Affairs by Maj.-Gen. UM Alkali, who moves from the Army War College.
Similarly, Maj.-Gen. GS Muhammed has been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General.
Maj.-Gen. JE Osifo moves from the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation to the Military Pensions Board as Chairman, while Maj.-Gen. IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed to the Defence Headquarters, Department of Defence Logistics, as Director, Engineering Services.
At the brigade and divisional levels, Brig.-Gen. AA Bello moves from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3, Joint Task Force South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, to the Defence Headquarters, Department of Defence Operations.
Brig.-Gen. MS Adamu has been appointed Commander of the newly established 8 Brigade following his redeployment from the Nigerian Army Women Command.
Brig.-Gen. MS Sule moves from the Special Task Force, Operation ENDURING PEACE, to command 27 Task Force Brigade.
Brig.-Gen. I Sule has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to become Commander, 6 Division Garrison, while Brig.-Gen. E Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to become Commander, 2 Division Garrison.
The former Commander, 2 Division Garrison, Brig.-Gen. AS Bugaje, has been redeployed to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director, Administration.
Anele said the COAS had charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation and professionalism.
According to her, the officers were also expected to remain committed to the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
She said Shaibu urged the officers to maintain an unwavering commitment to duty and support civil authorities in maintaining peace and security across the country.
Anele added that the new leadership structure was expected to enhance operational outcomes, strengthen joint and inter-agency coordination, and improve the Army’s capacity to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging security threats.