COAS Appoints Yahaya, Nnebeife, Gara, Others As GOCs For New Army Divisions

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the appointment of Major Generals Yakubu Yahaya, Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife, Moses Gara and Auwalu Mahmuda, alongside other senior officers, as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for newly established Nigerian Army divisions as part of a major restructuring of the military.

The appointments follow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of four additional Nigerian Army divisions to strengthen the Army’s force structure, enhance command and control, and improve its capacity to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the newly established divisions would commence operations upon attaining Initial Operational Capability (IOC), while measures are being put in place to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC).

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Under the new appointments, Major General Yakubu Yahaya has been redeployed from the Headquarters Joint Task Force (North Central), Operation SAVANNA SHIELD, to serve as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the newly created 9 Division in Ilorin, where he will also serve as Commander of Operation SAVANNA SHIELD.

Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife has been posted from Headquarters 2 Division to head the newly established 10 Division in Jalingo, while Major General Moses Gara takes charge of the new 5 Division in Makurdi, alongside his appointment as Commander of Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE.

Also, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Directorate of Inspection and Compliance to assume duty as General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan.

The Nigerian Army also activated three new brigades to strengthen the new formations. Brigadier General A.O. Odubiyi was appointed Commander of the newly established 11 Brigade, Gboko; Brigadier General A.M. Haruna was posted to command 29 Brigade, Kainji; while Brigadier General R.M. Aminu was appointed Commander of 10 Brigade, Lafia.

As part of the reorganisation, the Army reviewed the operational responsibilities of its divisions nationwide. The new 5 Division in Makurdi will oversee Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi states, while the 9 Division in Ilorin will be responsible for Kwara and Niger states. The newly created 10 Division in Jalingo will cover the border areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.

The statement also disclosed that the newly established 83 Division, headquartered in Benin City, will oversee Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states when it becomes operational later this year.

Congratulating the newly appointed commanders, Lieutenant General Shaibu urged them to provide visionary leadership, maintain operational momentum and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the discharge of their duties.

The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his continued support in expanding the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities, describing the establishment of the new divisions as a historic milestone that will enhance border security, improve operational coordination and strengthen the military’s ability to respond swiftly to security threats across the country.