By Elvira Jordan
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the redeployment of senior Nigerian Army officers to key command, operational and staff positions as part of efforts to strengthen leadership and improve operational effectiveness.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, , on September 9, 2026.
Under the new postings, Major General IA Ajose has been appointed Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, moving from the Department of Army Operations at Army Headquarters.
His predecessor, Major General AE Abubakar, has been redeployed from Operation HADIN KAI to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), where he will serve as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Major General AM Alechenu has also moved from Defence Headquarters Garrison to the NAHFC, while Major General RT Utsaha has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.
In other senior appointments, Major General AM Umar moves from the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Army War College Nigeria as Commandant, while Major General UM Alkali moves from the War College to the Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
Major General GS Muhammed has been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director General. Major General JE Osifo moves from the Finance Corporation to the Military Pension Board as Chairman, while Major General IE Ekpenyong has been posted to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Logistics 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 Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Operations.
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 27 Brigade as Commander.
Brigadier General I Sule has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander. Brigadier General E Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brigadier General AS Bugaje moves from 2 Division Garrison to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director Administration.
The Army Chief charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence placed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and commitment to duty.
He also urged them to remain focused on the Nigerian Army’s constitutional responsibility of defending the country’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security.
The Nigerian Army said the leadership changes were part of efforts to sustain a dynamic command and force-employment framework aimed at enhancing operational outcomes, strengthening joint and inter-agency coordination and improving the Service’s capacity to respond to contemporary and emerging security threats.
