The Nigerian Army has announced a major redeployment of senior officers, including the appointment of Major General IA Ajose as the new Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai.
The shake-up, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, affects key command, operational and staff appointments across the Army and is aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and aligning the Service’s leadership structure with the country’s evolving security challenges.
Under the new postings, Ajose moves from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations to take charge of Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East, while Major General AE Abubakar, the outgoing Theatre Commander, has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Other senior officers affected by the reshuffle include Major General AM Alechenu, who moves from Defence Headquarters Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Major General RT Utsaha moves from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.
Major General AM Umar has also been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, with Major General UM Alkali moving from the college to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
Similarly, Major General GS Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General, while Major General JE Osifo moves from the corporation to the Military Pension Board as Chairman.
Major General IE Ekpenyong has also been redeployed to the Department of Defence Logistics at Defence Headquarters as Director, Engineering Services.
At the operational level, Brigadier General 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.
Brigadier General MS Adamu has been appointed Commander of the newly established 8 Brigade after his redeployment from the Nigerian Army Women Command, while Brigadier General MS Sule moves from Special Task Force Operation Enduring Peace to command 27 Task Force Brigade.
Also, Brigadier General I Sule moves from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brigadier General E Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander.
Brigadier General AS Bugaje, who previously commanded 2 Division Garrison, has been redeployed to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director, Administration.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the postings were part of efforts to position experienced officers in critical theatres and strategic appointments.
“The exercise prioritises critical operational theatres and strategic appointments to ensure the right leadership, experience and expertise are positioned to deliver decisive effects,” she said.
Anele added that the COAS had charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through professionalism, innovation and commitment to duty.
According to her, the officers are expected to demonstrate “exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty” in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
She said the Nigerian Army remained committed to sustaining a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework capable of improving operational outcomes, strengthening joint and inter-agency coordination and responding decisively to emerging security threats.
