Massive shake-up as Army redeploys Senior Officers

In a major shake-up, the Nigerian Army has redeployed 75 of its senior officers, but the redeployment will take effect from April 3, 2023, PRNigeria can authoritatively report.

Among those affected are Maj. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF in the Lake Chad and the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Division, Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

Gen. Khalifa will be departing MNJTF on secondment to the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

On his part, Gen. Lagbaja, it was learnt, will be leaving the 1 Division for the Army Headquarters as Chief of Operation DAOP.

Meanwhile, PRNigeria gathered that the current Chief of Operations, Nigerian Army, Major General Olufemi Akinjobi will take over as the Gen­eral Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigeri­an Army Kaduna.

Similarly, Major General Gold Chibuisi, a Director to the Chief of Army Staff in Abuja will take over as the Theatre Commander MNJTF.

PRNigeria reports that Gen. Lagbaja, as 1 Division GOC, has been instrumental to the successes that troops have recorded against armed bandits, terrorists and cattle rustlers in Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, and other North West States.

Gen. Khalifa’s gallant stewardship at the MNJTF has also been responsible for the decline in the firepower of terror sects in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic, among others.

Sources in 1 Division  and at the MNJTF Headquarters, who asked not to be named, told PRNigeria that the duo of Lagbaja and Khalifa will be missed by their junior officers, considering their achievements as fearless and courageous military Commanders.

“The atmospheres at 1 Div and MNJTF has been somber since the news of the redeployment of Gen. Taofeek Lagbaja and Gen. Abdul Khalifa were broken. They are indeed among the finest Generals the Nigerian Army is endowed with. We can only wish them success in their new responsibilities,” they said.