The new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai bid to be in firm control of the army has ordered the redeployment of key officers within the military set up with immediate effect.
In the shakeup announced by General Buratai, new General Officers Commanding (GOCs) were named for the all the divisions of the force, while commanders were appointed to fill vacancies created by the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff Major General Gabriel Olonishakin,
The new GOCs were among 334 officers of the force appointed to head strategic units with various effective dates.
A statement from the Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, a new spokesman for the Defence Headquarters were also named to replace Major General Chris Olukolade.
He said that the appointments are to take effect on various dates.
According to him, the exercise affected the General Officers Commanding the 1, 2, 3, 81 and 82 Divisions of the Nigerian Army.
He said that the exercise also affected some principal staff officers at the Defence and Army headquarters, Corps Commanders, and other commanders.
He said, “The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai, today approved the postings and appointments of 334 officers of the Nigerian Army with various effective dates. These include some Principal Staff Officers at the Defence and Army Headquarters, Corps Commanders and General Officers Commanding as well as other commanders. They include 37 Major Generals, 57 Brigadier Generals, 128 Colonels, several Lieutenants Colonels and others.
“Some of those affected were the General Officers Commanding 1, 2, 3, 81 and 82 Divisions, Operations Pulo Shield and Safe Haven of Niger Delta and Plateau States.
“Some of those affected include Major General M A Koleoso, who is now Commander TRADOC, Major General S N Mu’azu, who moved from 2 Division to the Headquarters, Infantry Corps and appointed Commander. Major General M T Ibrahim moved from the Department of Army Standard and Evaluation to the Nigerian Defence Academy and appointed Commandant. Major General L K J Ogunewe is now the Chief of Policy and Plans. Major General F O Alli is now Chief of Training and Operations and Major General A A Salihu is now Chief of Logistics. Others include Major General A G Okunola, who is now the Commander of Operation PULO SHIELD (JTF) and Major General T C Ude, Commander, Operation Safe Haven (STF Jos). Others are Major General L W Wiwa, who is now the Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre.
“Major General A Oyebade is now the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Major General L C Ilo is now the General Officer Commanding 2 Division. We also have Major General H Umaru as the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Major General I H Edet (General Officer Commanding 81 Division) and Brigadier General I Attahiru is now the acting General Officer, Commanding 82 Division. While Brigadier General A T Hamman is now the acting Provost Marshal. Brigadier General L F Abdullahi is the acting Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps and Colonel R Abubakar is now the acting Director, Defence Information, among others.”