The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved appointment and redeployment of more General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Commanders and other officers to enhance administrative and operational efficiency of the Nigerian Army.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday in Abuja.
Those affected include Maj.-Gen. VU Okoro from Department of Army Operations to 2 Division as GOC; Maj.-Gen. HT Dada from Defence Intelligence Agency, to 82 Division as GOC and Maj.-Gen. Muhammed Usman redeployed from 2 Division to 82 Division.
Also redeployed are, Maj.-Gen. KA Isoni as Commander Army Headquarters Garrison; and Maj.-Gen. AE Abubakar from 7 Division/Sector 1 OPHK, to 3 Division as GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN.
READ ALSO:
According to Nwachukwu, the new Corps Commanders are Maj.-Gen. GO Adesina, Commander Signals Corps; Maj.-Gen. OO Oluyede, Commander, Infantry Corps; and Maj.-Gen. HG Tafida, Commander Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps.
“Maj.-Gen. EL Ugwuoke is appointed Corps Commander, Ordinance Corps and Brig.-Gen. SI Musa, Acting Director Legal Services, while Brig.-Gen. ND Shagaya is now the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport.
“Among the newly redeployed Defence and Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers are Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru from Department of Special Services and Programmes (Army) to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief of Defence Operations.”
Also appointed are Maj.-Gen. ES Buba who moved from Defence Intelligence Agency to DHQ as Director Defence Media Operations; Maj.-Gen. OR Aiyenigba, Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation; and Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, Chief of Administration (Army).
“Others are Maj.-Gen. HT Wesley from TRADOC to Army Headquarters as Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Maj.-Gen. Y Yahaya, appointed Chief of Personnel Management.
“Maj.-Gen. IM Jallo moves from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Office of the COAS as Director Inspection and Compliance,” he said.
Nwachukwu added that Maj.-Gen. EA Anaryu moves from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre as Deputy Commandant, and Brig.-Gen. NJ Edet from Headquarters 9 Brigade to Headquarters 14 Brigade as the new commander.
He added that Brig.-Gen. JIB Manjang was redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to the Nigerian Army College of Logistic and Management as Deputy Commandant, among several others.
According to him, redeployment in the Nigerian army is a routine exercise, particularly with the recent retirement of some senior officers as a result of the appointment of the new army leadership.
The redeployments take effect from July 3. (NAN)
Abducted Anambra Rev Fr released after police, gunmen fierce battle
The Anambra State Police command has secured the release of a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Stephen Echezona, who was abducted in Ichida, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga said the priest was released unhurt after an encounter with his abductors in Ihiala.
In a statement in Awka, the PPRO said: “In the early hours of March 23, 2025, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Civil Defence, AVG Ichida, and Ihiala respectively, secured the release of Rev. Father Echezona at Ihiala. The priest was returned unharmed.
READ ALSO:
“The victim was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida. A joint security force, in an ensuing gun duel with the armed criminals operating in a white Lexus SUV without plate number, overpowered the kidnappers.
“The assailants abandoned the white Lexus and in a bid to flee the scene due to the superior fire power of the joint security team, fled the scene and held the Rev. Father hostage. The operatives also recovered the white Lexus vehicle.”
“In a coordinated hot chase by the operatives, different security checkpoints and security operatives in the state were alerted, which resulted in the criminals abandoning the Priest at Ihiala and escaping through a nearby bush.”
According to the PPRO, the joint security team has taken over the scene in Ihiala for possible arrest of the armed men and recovery of the Toyota Highlander belonging to the Rev. Father.
Group tackles Natasha over call for drug test on senators
Some indigenes of Kogi West Senatorial District on Sunday, rose in defence of their senator, Sunday Karimi over the verbal tirade between him and Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the embattled Senator of Kogi Central who is currently on suspension from the national assembly, noting that her call for periodic drug tests was apt and self-indicting.
The indigenes said the embattled senator’s advice was in order, considering the fact that her conduct since she refused to obey a simple sitting arrangement rule at the Senate, had truly called for a drug test to ascertain if she was free from the influence of substance.
The constituents were responding to a statement by the embattled Senator, where she called for periodic drug tests for senators, in response to a statement by Karimi.
Their reaction came through a statement signed by the Chairman, Kogi West Patriotic Assembly, Ayodele Joshua, PhD; and Secretary, Kareem Adigun.
Senator Karimi had said former Governor Yahaya Bello had been vindicated by the embarassment Akpoti-Uduaghan had brought on the Senate and Nigeria as a whole.
The Kogi West Indigenes, who swiftly rose in his defence after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s response, told him not to engage in a war of words with her, stating that they were well positioned to give the embattled Senator the right response.
“Our attention has been drawn to a rejoinder by the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Mrs. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, to Senator Sunday Karimi’s comments on her conduct at the National Assembly, which recommended drug tests for serving senators.
READ ALSO:
Taraba police spokesman Abdullahi Usman is dead
The Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Usman, has passed away after a protracted illness.
Usman died in the early hours of Sunday at his residence in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, after serving as spokesman of the command for the last three years.
Gambo Kwache, who is the acting spokesperson of the Command, confirmed the death of the PPRO to journalists on Sunday.
“I woke up and saw several missed calls on my phone and a message, stating that Oga is dead. I will call you, let me get there first,” Kwache stated.
READ ALSO:
Also, a close friend of the late Usman, Mr. Ahmed Manga, confirmed the death of the PPRO.
Manga, who spoke to our correspondent through the phone of the PPRO, said Usman died at about 5am on Sunday.
“He was sick, although not much, until last night, when he started struggling with the sickness. We wanted to take him to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Jalingo.
“Before we could get there, he died on the way. He was later confirmed dead when we arrived at the FMC,” he said.
Manga said Usman will be buried on Sunday afternoon according to Islamic rites.
‘We’re not hiring,’ NNPC denies viral recruitment adverts
Natasha: Court blocks recall attempt, stops INEC
Odegbami speaks on Osimhen breaking his 44-year goals record
I didn’t snatch Asake’s mother from her husband -Musibau Alani
2026 WCQ: Super Eagles move up to third place with 2-0 win in Rwanda
Osimhen breaks Odegbami’s Eagles goal record
Some ladies in movie industry ready to sleep their way to fame — Jide Kosoko
Oluwo accuses Ooni of plotting to dethrone him
