• Ajose takes over Operation Hadin Kai
• Umar heads Army War College Nigeria
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff positions across the Nigerian Army.
The Army said the shake-up was aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and repositioning its leadership structure to respond more effectively to the country’s evolving security challenges.
Army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, announced the new postings in a statement on Wednesday.
Under the new arrangement, Maj Gen I. A. Ajose has moved from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Operations, to the Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, as Theatre Commander.
He replaces Maj Gen A.E. Abubakar, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Maj Gen A.M. Alechenu has also been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre from the Defence Headquarters Garrison, while Maj Gen R.T. Utsaha moves from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, to the Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.
According to the Army, the postings were designed to strengthen critical operational theatres and strategic appointments with officers possessing the required leadership experience and expertise.
In other appointments, Maj Gen A.M. Umar moves from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, while Maj Gen U.M. Alkali moves from the college to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
Maj Gen G.S. Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General, while Maj Gen J.E. Osifo moves from the corporation to the Military Pension Board as Chairman.
Maj Gen I.E. Ekpenyong has also been redeployed to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Logistics as Director, Engineering Services.
At the operational level, Brig Gen A.A. 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 M.S. Adamu moves from the Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brig Gen M.S. Sule moves from the Special Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
Similarly, Brig Gen I. Sule moves from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brig Gen E. Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander.
Brig Gen A.S. Bugaje, who previously commanded 2 Division Garrison, moves to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director, Administration.
The Army spokesperson said the new postings were part of the COAS’s efforts to ensure that officers with the right skills and experience were deployed to positions considered critical to national security.
Anele said the COAS charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation and professionalism.
The officers were also directed to remain committed to the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and security.
The latest redeployment comes amid continuing security challenges across several parts of the country, with the Army maintaining operations against terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
