Major-General Yayaha: 4 Key Facts to Know about Nigeria's New COAS
A statement from the Defence Headquarters on Thursday, May 27, confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari's appointment of Major-General Farouk Yahaya as a replacement for the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ibrahim Attahiru.
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
As the nation looks up to Yahaya to steer the affairs of the Nigerian Army in the prolonged anti-terrorism fight, with some citizens wondering about the ability of the Armed Forces to overcome worsening insecurity, it is vital to take a look into the COAS' profile.
Source: Facebook
1. State of origin
Hailing from Zamfara state, Yahaya is known to be of the regular course 37 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
2. Operation HADIN KAI
Until his latest appointment, Yahaya was the theatre commander of the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency military unit, Operation HADIN KAI, formerly known as Operation Lafiya Dole, set up to tackle activities of Boko Haram in the northeast, according to The Nation.
3. Division
Major-General Yahaya had also served as the general officer in charge of 1 Division of the NA.
4. Previous Promotions
The new leader of the army took over from Major-General Olusegun Adeniyi, who was redeployed to the force's Resource Centre as a senior research fellow.
Added to the foregoing, Yahaya was the commander of the 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army.
A comprehensive profile of Yahaya is contained in a Facebook post by the NA.
Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) had urged President Buhari to appoint Major Gen. Ben Ahanotu as the next COAS following the death of Attahiru.
The youths said that appointing Ahanotu whom they described as the highest Igbo ranking officer in the Nigerian Army would help to unite the country.
The group said it had learnt that General Ahanotu, allegedly from Anambra state, is the second in command to the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Attahiru.
Legit.ng gathered that the group made this known in a statement released by its president-general, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the secretary-general, Comrade Obinna Achionye on Tuesday, May 25.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
The statement claimed Ahanotu is currently the Chief of Policy and Plan of the Nigerian Army. It added that he is a member of regular course 35 and was the commander of the military operation that captured the founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, and his followers.
Source: Legit.ng
