By Kingsley Omonobi
ABUJA — The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has approved the redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army as part of efforts to enhance operational effectiveness.
Under the new postings, Maj. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose has been appointed Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, while Maj. Gen. JE Osifo becomes Chairman of the Military Pensions Board.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, disclosed this in a statement, saying the exercise was aimed at strengthening leadership and aligning the Army’s command structure with the country’s evolving security environment.
She said the postings prioritised critical operational theatres and strategic appointments to ensure that officers with the requisite leadership experience and expertise were positioned to deliver on the Army’s mandate.
Ajose, who was serving at Army Headquarters, Department of Army Operations, is taking over as Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, from Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Maj. Gen. AM Alechenu has also moved from Defence Headquarters Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Maj. Gen. RT Utsaha moves from the Army Headquarters, Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, to Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.
Similarly, Maj. Gen. AM Umar moves from the Army Headquarters, Department of Civil-Military Affairs, to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, while Maj. Gen. UM Alkali moves from the college to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs at Army Headquarters.
Maj. Gen. GS Muhammed has been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General.
Osifo, who was previously at the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation, moves to the Military Pensions Board as Chairman, while Maj. Gen. IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed to the Department of Defence Logistics at Defence Headquarters as Director, Engineering Services.
At the operational level, Brig. Gen. AA Bello moves from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, to the Department of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters.
Brig. Gen. MS Adamu has been redeployed from the Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brig. Gen. MS Sule moves from Operation Enduring Peace to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
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. AS Bugaje, who was at 2 Division Garrison, has been redeployed to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director, Administration.
The COAS charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and commitment to duty.
Shaibu urged the officers to remain focused on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and security.
According to the statement, the Nigerian Army would continue to strengthen its leadership and force-employment framework to improve operational outcomes, joint and inter-agency coordination, and its capacity to respond to contemporary and emerging security threats.
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