Mass Redeployment Hit Army

In a massive shake-up on Friday, the Nigeria Army deployed its key senior officers including General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Corps Commanders and other senior officers.

The GOCs affected are Major General John Nwaoga of the 3 Division and Major General Junaid Bindawa, 7 Division of the Nigeria Army.

The army authorities, in a statement signed by Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, out-going army spokesman, explained that the changes were part of the fourth quarter postings and appointments of senior officers.

Other affected senior officers include: Major General Chris Olukolade, Director, Defence Information, Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru; Major General John Kwabe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters; Major General Ugo Buzugbe, Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps; Major General Ebiobowei Awala, Military Secretary (Army) and Major General Olufemi Adeosun, Director, Policy, Defence Headquarters.

Others are;  Major General Sunday Adebayo, Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps; Major General Mohammed  Idris, Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy; Major General Mobolaji Koleoso, Director, Armed Forces Simulation Centre; Major General Letam Wiwa, Director, Military Intelligence; Major General Patrick Akem, Director, Legal Service (Army); Major General Charley Okoro, Director Peace Keeping Operations Defence Headquarters, as well as Major General Obidah Ethan, Chief of Civil -Military Affairs.

Also affected are: Major General Modibbo Alkali, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery; Major General Shehu Yusuf, Commandant, Depot, Nigerian Army; Major General Ahmed Mohammed, Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre; Major General Iliyasu Abbah, Commander, Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield); Brigadier General Arinze Ebenebe, Commandant, Warrant Officers Academy; Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana, Director of Army Reserve Recruitment and Resettlement; Brigadier General Kasimu Abdulkarim, Director of Physical Training, Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force; Brigadier General Ibe Nicholas, Commander, 23 Brigade; Brigadier General Ohifeme Ejemai, Commander, 9 Brigade; Brigadier General Bright Fibionumama, Commander, 3 Brigade; Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, Commander, 13 Brigade; Brigadier General Mustapha Onoyiveta, Head, Nigerian Army  Operations Monitoring Team; Brigadier General Lanre Bello, Commander, 34 Brigade and Brigadier General Olajide Laleye,  among others.

Meanwhile, the  presidency has ordered a round-the-clock surveillance of all major installations across the country as part of security arrangements put in place to ensure a continuation of the peace enjoyed during the Christmas celebrations.

Already, the Nigerian Army has suspended all passes and annual leave of its officers and men until after the New Year festivities.

It was reliably gathered that a signal from military authorities to all General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and corps commanders ordered that all annual leave and passes be put on hold and all officers and men on leave be recalled with immediate effect.

The directive, it was gathered, was part of security measures put in place during the festive period to be fully battle-ready to combat any threat to public peace.

The Nigeria Police High Command has also deployed all the strike forces, specialised units of the force, including the Police Mobile Force (MOPOL), Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Federal Highway Patrol and Explosive Ordinance Department to join forces with the conventional police force in providing water-tight security throughout the country during the festivities.

In continuation of its effort to ensure a hitch-free New Year celebration, Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, rolled out the directives at the end of a meeting with other members of the police management team on Friday, where he reassured Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, that massive security measures had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free celebration nationwide.

Informed security sources on Friday said that while the security cordon in the North-East remained water-tight, government had equally ordered security operatives across the country to be vigilant and “take preemptive measures.”

According to the source, flash points in all volatile parts of the country will continue to be raided by operatives to preempt any undesirable occurrences while suspects are being picked up.

“These suspects will remain in custody till the end of the Yuletide. They will all go through security screening while innocent ones among them will be set free as soon as this critical period is over,” the source disclosed.

The source added that some women and children abducted by terrorists who attacked an army barracks in Bama, Borno State, last week had been rescued by security forces who also made several arrests.