Army redeploys 103 senior officers

The Nigerian Army has redeployed 103 senior officers, including the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole and some General Officers Commanding (GOCs) “to inject new hands into its ongoing operations.”

Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen Texas Chukwu, said a statement on Saturday that the exercise was also carried out to actualize the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.

According to him, the vision is to have a professionally-responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had on Friday, sent goodwill message to the troops in the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram terrorists, congratulating them for their bravery, alertness and doggedness.

With the redeployment, Maj.-Gen. Benson Akinroluyo is now the Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole.

Until the new appointment, Akinroluyo was the GOC, 3 Division, Jos.

He takes over from Maj.-Gen Abba Dikko, who has been moved to the Department of Civil Military Affairs as the Chief of Civil Military Affairs.

Maj.-Gen. Nuhu Angbazo, former Chief of Military/Civil Affairs is now the GOC, 3 Division, while Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham remains in Headquarters, 6 Division, Port Harcourt, as GOC.

Others redeployed, Chukwu said, were Maj.-Gen.Victor Ezugwu from Depot Nigerian Army to Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

Maj.Gen. Adeyemi Adetayo, moves from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to Department of Army Standard and Evaluation as Director, Procurement and Projects.

Brig.-Gen. Ifiok Obot is redeployed from Headquarters, Operation DELTA SAFE to Nigerian Army University, Biu, as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Military).

Also affected in the redeployment are Brig.-Gen. Olufemi Dada from Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) to Headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Director, Combat Development.

Brig.-Gen. Solomon Udounwa moves to Defence Headquarters as Deputy Director, Campaign planning,

Similarly, Brig.-Gen. Adekunle Adesope, from Department of Army Standard and Evaluation goes to Office of the Chief of Army Staff as Acting Director in the Directorate of Audit and Financial Management.

Chukwu said that the exercise saw the movement of Brig.-Gen. Caleb Dalhatu from Headquarters, Infantry Corps Centre, to Headquarters, 81 Division Garrison, as Commander.

Brig.-Gen. Abdu Hassan is redeployed to Headquarters, Infantry Corps Centre as Chief of Staff (COS), from Headquarters 2 Brigade.

Brig.-Gen. Kabir Mukhtar moves from Headquarters, 81 Division Garrison, to Headquarters, Department of Army Administration, as Acting Director, Manpower.

Also moved is Brig.-Gen.- Nasiru Jega to Headquarters, 2 Brigade, as Commander, while Brig.-Gen. Sani Mohammed moves from Department of Administration to Depot Nigerian Army as Acting Commandant.

Brig.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe is to remain in Headquarters, 16 Brigade as Commander; Col. Adamu Nura goes to Nigerian Army Armour School as Chief Instructor from Headquarters, 21 Special Armour Brigade.

Chukwu also said that Col. Louis Lepdung had been redeployed from Headquarters, 25 Task Force Brigade, to Headquarters, Infantry Corps Centre as Deputy Director, Research and Development.

He said that Col. Kingsley Umoh from Administration Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) had been moved to Defence Headquarters as Assistant Director, Defence Information.

Also moved, he added, was Col. Kayode Ogunsanya from Headquarters, 3 Division Army Public Relations to Defence Headquarters, Garrison Army Public Relations, as Deputy Director, Army Public Relations.