By Elizabeth Tanko
Abuja, Nigeria – The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a major redeployment of senior officers across the Nigerian Army in a bid to strengthen operational effectiveness and align command structures with Nigeria’s current security challenges.
The postings, announced Tuesday, September 9, 2026, by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Apollonia Anele, affect key command, operational and staff appointments nationwide.
In the most significant operational change, Major General Ibikunle Ajose has been moved from the Department of Army Operations at Army Headquarters to the Theatre Command Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, as the new Theatre Commander.
He takes over from Major General Abdulsalam Enesi Abubakar, who has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, NAHFC, as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.
Other senior appointments include, Major General R.T. Utsaha from Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison; Major General A.M. Alechenu from DHQ Garrison to NAHFC; Major General A.M. Umar from Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Commandant, Army War College Nigeria; Major General U.M. Alkali from Army War College Nigeria to Department of Civil-Military Affairs; Major General G.S. Muhammed from Office of the National Security Adviser to Director General, Nigerian Army Finance Corporation; Major General J.E. Osifo from NAFIC to Chairman, Military Pension Board; and Major General I.E. Ekpenyong to Director Engineering Services, Department of Defence Logistics, DHQ
At the operational level, the Army also announced new Brigade and Garrison Commanders.
Brigadier General M.S. Adamu from Nigerian Army Women Command to Commander, newly established 8 Brigade; Brigadier General M.S. Sule: From Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to Commander, 27 Task Force Brigade; Brigadier General I. Sule from Directorate of Recruitment Management to Commander, 6 Division Garrison; Brigadier General E. Azenda from Land Forces Simulation Centre to Commander, 2 Division Garrison; Brigadier General A.S. Bugaje from 2 Division Garrison to Director Administration, Land Forces Simulation Centre; and Brigadier General A.A. Bello from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 JTF South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, to Department of Defence Operations, DHQ
General Shaibu charged the affected officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through “exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty.”
He urged them to remain focused on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting territorial integrity, and supporting civil authorities to maintain peace and security.
The Army said the redeployment “prioritises critical operational theatres and strategic appointments to ensure the right leadership, experience and expertise are positioned to deliver decisive effects.”
It added that the Service remains committed to “a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework that enhances operational outcomes, strengthens joint and inter-agency coordination, and improves capacity to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging threats.”
