Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose has been appointed Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, in a fresh round of Nigerian Army postings approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu.
Col. Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, announced the changes on Wednesday. Ajose takes over the North-East theatre from Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, who has been assigned to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean of the Faculty of Operational Research.
Maj.-Gen. Aminu Umar is the new Commandant of the Army War College Nigeria after his previous assignment at the Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs. Maj.-Gen. GS Muhammed has also left the Office of the National Security Adviser to become Director-General of the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation.
Maj.-Gen. Julius Osifo, who previously served at the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation, has been appointed Chairman of the Military Pension Board. Maj.-Gen. IE Ekpenyong is now Director of Engineering Services at the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Logistics.
At brigade level, Brig.-Gen. MS Adamu has been appointed Commander of the newly established 8 Brigade after serving with the Nigerian Army Women Command. Brig.-Gen. MS Sule is now Commander of 27 Task Force Brigade following his assignment with Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE.
Brig.-Gen. I. Sule has taken charge of 6 Division Garrison after his previous role at the Directorate of Recruitment Management. Brig.-Gen. E Azenda has also moved from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to become Commander of 2 Division Garrison.
The changes place new commanders in operational theatres, formations, training institutions and strategic military establishments. The Army said the exercise was designed to match officers’ leadership experience and expertise with the requirements of their new assignments.
The change at Operation HADIN KAI puts Ajose in charge of the Army’s North-East theatre, while Abubakar moves into an operational research role at the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Shaibu charged the newly assigned officers to demonstrate leadership, professionalism and operational innovation in their respective commands. He also urged them to remain committed to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Chief of Army Staff directed the officers to support civil authorities in maintaining peace and security and to work towards improved coordination with other security agencies.
