The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major redeployment of senior Nigerian Army officers to key command, operational and staff positions as part of efforts to strengthen leadership and improve the military’s response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
This is contained in a statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, on September 9, 2026 and made available to The News Chronicle.
The shake-up places Major General IA Ajose as the new Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), following his redeployment from the Department of Army Operations at Army Headquarters.
Major General AE Abubakar, who previously served in OPHK, has been moved to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Other senior officers affected by the redeployment include Major General AM Alechenu, who moves from Defence Headquarters Garrison to the NAHFC, 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 (DCMA) to the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) as Commandant, while Major General UM Alkali moves from the War College to AHQ DCMA.
In another key appointment, Major General GS Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation (NAFIC) as Director General.
Major General JE Osifo, who moves from NAFIC to the Military Pension Board (MPB), will serve as Chairman, while Major General IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed 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 moves from the Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brigadier General MS Sule moves from Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
Similarly, 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 said the redeployments were designed to position officers with the requisite leadership, operational experience and expertise in critical theatres and strategic appointments, in line with the country’s changing security environment.
The COAS charged the newly appointed commanders to justify the confidence placed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to duty.
He urged them to remain focused on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and security.
The Nigerian Army said it would continue to strengthen its leadership and force-employment framework to improve operational outcomes, deepen joint and inter-agency coordination and enhance its capacity to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging threats.
The redeployments, according to the Service, are part of broader efforts to advance Nigeria’s national security objectives.
