DEFENCE
Lagbaja Appoints More GOCs, Commanders
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has approved appointment and redeployment of more General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Commanders and other officers to enhance administrative and operational efficiency of the Nigerian Army.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.
-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday in Abuja.Those affected include Maj.-Gen. VU Okoro from Department of Army Operations to 2 Division as GOC; Maj.-Gen. HT Dada from Defence Intelligence Agency, to 82 Division as GOC and Maj.-Gen.
Muhammed Usman redeployed from 2 Division to 82 Division.Also redeployed are, Maj.-Gen. KA Isoni as Commander Army Headquarters Garrison; and Maj.-Gen. AE Abubakar from 7 Division/Sector 1 OPHK, to 3 Division as GOC and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN.
According to Nwachukwu, the new Corps Commanders are Maj.-Gen. GO Adesina, Commander Signals Corps; Maj.-Gen. OO Oluyede, Commander, Infantry Corps; and Maj.-Gen. HG Tafida, Commander Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps.
“Maj.-Gen. EL Ugwuoke is appointed Corps Commander, Ordinance Corps and Brig.-Gen. SI Musa, Acting Director Legal Services, while Brig.-Gen. ND Shagaya is now the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Supply and Transport.
“Among the newly redeployed Defence and Army Headquarters Principal Staff Officers are Maj.-Gen. Emeka Onumajuru from Department of Special Services and Programmes (Army) to Defence Headquarters and appointed Chief of Defence Operations.”
Also appointed are Maj.-Gen. ES Buba who moved from Defence Intelligence Agency to DHQ as Director Defence Media Operations; Maj.-Gen. OR Aiyenigba, Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation; and Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, Chief of Administration (Army).
“Others are Maj.-Gen. HT Wesley from TRADOC to Army Headquarters as Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Maj.-Gen. Y Yahaya, appointed Chief of Personnel Management.
“Maj.-Gen. IM Jallo moves from Army Headquarters Department of Policy and Plans to Office of the COAS as Director Inspection and Compliance,” he said.
Nwachukwu added that Maj.-Gen. EA Anaryu moves from Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre to Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre as Deputy Commandant, and Brig.-Gen. NJ Edet from Headquarters 9 Brigade to Headquarters 14 Brigade as the new commander.
He added that Brig.-Gen. JIB Manjang was redeployed from Army War College Nigeria to the Nigerian Army College of Logistic and Management as Deputy Commandant, among several others.
According to him, redeployment in the Nigerian army is a routine exercise, particularly with the recent retirement of some senior officers as a result of the appointment of the new army leadership.
The redeployments take effect from July 3. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Troops Rescue Wounded Civilians, Recover 117 Cows, Stolen Vehicle in Zamfara
By David Torough, Abuja
Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have recorded a series of operational successes in Zamfara State, including the rescue of three civilians, recovery of suspected rustled livestock and retrieval of a stolen vehicle.
The troops responded to a distress call over an attack by armed bandits on travellers along the Dampo–Rumba Road in Bakura Local Government Area.
According to the operation’s statement, the troops engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat into the surrounding bush and abandon three injured civilians.
The victims were given first aid by the troops and evacuated for medical treatment. Security patrols have continued along the road to maintain safe passage for commuters.
In a separate operation around the Magami axis, troops acting on intelligence intercepted five trucks suspected of transporting rustled livestock to Gusau.
A search of the trucks led to the recovery of 117 cows, two donkeys, one goat and five cow skins. The recovered livestock and items were handed over to the Chairman of the Zamfara State Committee on the Recovery of Rustled Animals in Gusau for identification and return to their rightful owners.
Meanwhile, troops in the Tsafe Local Government Area recovered a stolen Toyota Camry with registration number RBC 804CL following intelligence shared among joint tracking teams.
The driver reportedly ignored a stop signal and fled towards a nearby community.
Troops pursued the vehicle, prompting the suspects to abandon it and escape on foot.
The recovered vehicle has been secured for further administrative and legal processes, according to the statement.
DEFENCE
Kano Police Arrest 10 Suspected Inter-state Car Thieves
The Kano State Police Command has arrested 10 suspected members of an inter-state motor vehicle theft syndicate and recovered 12 stolen vehicles linked to the group.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, made this known while newsmen in Kano, on Wednesday.
Bakori said the arrests and recoveries were made by operatives of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) following credible intelligence and coordinated operations across Kano and its neighbouring states.
He said five suspects were initially detained in Adamawa on Sept. 7, during which a white Mercedes Benz GLK 350 was recovered.
According to him, discreet investigation and intelligence-led follow-up resulted in the recovery of 10 additional stolen vehicles in different locations across Kano and neighbouring states.
He added that five other suspects were arrested on Sept. 12 at about 8:30 p.m. at Kwankwasiya City Quarters, Tarauni, Kano, while in possession of a stolen white Toyota Hilux.
The CP said the suspects confessed to stealing vehicles in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe and other neighbouring states.
He said the suspects also disclosed that their modus operandi involved stealing vehicles, concealing them in different locations and moving them across state borders for sale.
Bakori said investigation was ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover other stolen vehicles.
He said 11 of the 12 recovered vehicles were unregistered, making it difficult for the police to trace some of their owners.
The CP urged vehicle owners to ensure proper registration of their vehicles, warning that the command would not tolerate the use of unregistered vehicles or vehicles with covered or concealed number plates.
He said the operation was conducted in line with the Inspector-General of Police, I-G Olatunji Disu’s, ”Handshake Patrol” initiative aimed at dismantling inter-state criminal networks through intelligence sharing and inter-command collaboration.
Bakori urged owners of the recovered vehicles to contact the Investigating Police Officer on 07063407910, the Police Public Relations Officer’s office or the Officer-in-Charge of SIS at Court Road, Tarauni Area Command, with valid proof of ownership.
He appealed to members of the public to report suspicious movements of vehicles or persons to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency numbers.
The CP said the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigation. (NAN)
DEFENCE
GOC Tasks Troops on Vigilance, Commitment to Tackling Insecurity
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Auwalu Mahmuda, has advised troops to be vigilant and committed to tackling insecurity in their Areas of Responsibility (AOR).
This was contained in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division, Lt.
-Col. Jonah Danjuma, made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.Danjuma quoted Mahmuda as giving the advice during his visit to the troops’ location near the Old Oyo National Park in the state.
The GOC, who inspected the lIgbeti–Igboho–Sepetari Road in Olorunsogo Local Government Area (LGA) said that the visit was part of a broader framework of visiting formations and units to have an on the spot assessment of troop deployment.
Mahmuda was received and briefed on the security situation in the area by the Commanding Officer (CO), 81 Battalion, Lt.-Col. Chiemezie Asogwa.
“The GOC also visited the 169 Motorcycle Battalion Headquarters, Ikoyi-Ile, and Abaja Response Area, both in Oriire LGA, and was received by the Commanding Officer (CO), Lt.-Col. Waziri Ayuba.
The commanding officers conducted the GOC round the deployment areas and briefed him on the operational disposition of the battalion.
Addressing the troops, Mahmuda urged the soldiers to be alert, disciplined and to maintain an aggressive posture.
He also commended the troops for ensuring safety in their areas of responsibility while urging them to adhere to the core values of the Nigerian Army. (NAN)


