Shake-Up In Nigerian Army As COAS Redeploys Top Officers — Full List Emerges

According to Ireporter Online, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a comprehensive reshuffle of senior officers across various operational, command, training, and administrative positions within the Nigerian Army.

The development, announced on Saturday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, strengthening national security architecture, and enhancing the Army’s capacity to respond to evolving security threats across the country. The redeployments affect several field commanders, commandants of military institutions, and principal staff officers at Army Headquarters.

Under the new postings, Major General WM Dangana has been named General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE, succeeding Major General EF Oyinlola. Similarly, Major General EI Okoro has been appointed GOC 6 Division and Land Component Commander of the Joint Task Force South-South Operation DELTA SAFE, replacing Major General EE Emeka. Major General JR Lar will now serve as Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, while Brigadier General OM Oyekola has been appointed Acting Military Secretary (Army). Brigadier General I Waziri retains his position as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff.

In further postings, Brigadier General IB Buhari has been appointed Commander of Headquarters 63 Brigade, while Brigadier General K Rabiu takes over leadership of Headquarters 31 Artillery Brigade. Major General SA Emmanuel has been named Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, a move that underscores the military’s increasing focus on technology-driven and modern warfare capabilities. Major General O Adegbe has also been appointed Director of Intelligence and Security at Defence Headquarters.

For military education and institutional development, Major General KE Chigbu has been appointed Deputy Commandant of the National Defence College. Major General SD Makolo becomes Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School, while Major General SO Adejimi assumes leadership of the Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport. Major General FS Etim has been appointed Chief of Training at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Brigadier General U Ahmad will now serve as Commandant of the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria.

Other appointments include Major General KO Ukandu as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Post Housing Development Limited (PHDL), and Major General AI Allison as Managing Director of Defence Properties Limited. The Chief of Army Staff charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence placed in them by demonstrating strong leadership, professionalism, innovation, and commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while supporting civil authorities in maintaining peace and security.

The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to ongoing reforms aimed at building a more professional, combat-ready, and people-oriented force capable of addressing current and future security challenges in line with national security objectives.