By David Torough, Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the strategic redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff appointments across the Nigerian Army (NA), as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen leadership and align the Service’s command structure with Nigeria’s evolving security environment.

The exercise prioritises critical operational theatres and strategic appointments to ensure the right leadership, experience and expertise are positioned to deliver decisive effects.

In the new postings, Major General IA Ajose moves from Army Headquarters (AHQ), Department of Army Operations, to Theatre Command Joint Task Force (JTF) North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), as Theatre Commander, while Major General AE Abubakar has been redeployed from OPHK, to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.

Major General AM Alechenu moves from Defence Headquarters (DHQ) Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, while Major General RT Utsaha moves from AHQ Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to DHQ Garrison as Commander.

Similarly, Major General AM Umar moves from AHQ Department of Civil-Military Affairs (DCMA) to Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) as Commandant, while Major General UM Alkali moves from AWCN to AHQ DCMA. Major General GS Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation (NAFIC) as Director General, while Major General JE Osifo moves from NAFIC to the Military Pension Board (MPB) as Chairman and Major General IE Ekpenyong has been redeployed to DHQ Department of Defence Logistics as Director Engineering Services.

At the operational level, Brigadier General AA Bello moves from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 JTF South-South, Operation DELTA SAFE, to DHQ Department of Defence Operations. Brigadier General MS Adamu has been redeployed from Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brigadier General MS Sule moves from Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander.

Similarly, Brigadier General I Sule, has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander while Brigadier General E Azenda, moves from Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander and Brigadier General AS Bugaje, moves from 2 Division Garrison to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director Administration.

The COAS has charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and unwavering commitment to duty and relentlessly focused on the constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security.

The NA remains resolute in sustaining a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework that enhances operational outcomes, strengthens joint and inter-agency coordination and improves the capacity of the Service to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging threats in furtherance of Nigeria’s national security objectives.

Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have foiled a cattle rustling operation and recovered more than 500 cattle in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The troops, from Sector 1, Joint Task Force North West, conducted the operation on Tuesday following a distress call from residents over cattle rustling at Rugar Mande Kurmin.

Lt.

-Col. Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Danja said that upon receiving the distress call, the troops swiftly mobilised to the suspected withdrawal routes of the terrorists and established blocking positions.

He said the troops engaged the terrorists from multiple positions, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and abandon the rustled cattle.

According to him, all the recovered cattle were subsequently handed over to their respective owners.

The media officer said the successful operation further demonstrated the troops’ commitment to protecting lives and property and disrupting criminal activities across the Joint Operations Area.

He urged members of the public to continue providing security agencies with timely and relevant information to enable the military to eradicate terrorist elements within the Joint Operations Area.

Danja reaffirmed the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma to denying criminal elements freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.(NAN)

The Police Command in Rivers says it has rescued a kidnapped woman, and apprehended a suspected kidnapper during a raid on a kidnappers’ camp in Rivers.

The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

A resident of Rivers, simply identified as Loveth, was abducted on Sept.

2 while seated in front of her shop in Port Harcourt.

Agabe said that armed men reportedly fired shots into the air, forcefully abducted Loveth, and took her away in a vehicle.

She said that following the incident, operatives of the Eleme Police Division commenced intelligence-led operations to track down the suspected kidnappers.

“The operation led police operatives to the criminal hideout where officers engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun battle.

“Subsequently, operatives overpowered the suspected kidnappers and successfully rescued Loveth,” she said.

Agabe said that a suspected member of the gang, aged 35, was apprehended during the operation.

She further said that during the operation, police recovered a silver-coloured minibus with registration number RBC 992 XE, Abuja, and two locally made pistols.

She further said that live ammunition, mobile phone, two identity cards, two black gowns and a vehicle number plate marked KRK 528 HG were recovered during the operation.

The spokesperson said that the command had intensified intelligence gathering and surveillance operations to identify and apprehend other members of the gang.

Agabe said that the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has assured residents of the command’s determination to protect lives and property, and bring criminal elements to justice.

She warned criminal elements operating in the state that there was no safe haven for them.

“The command will continue to deploy all lawful and available resources to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of kidnapping and other violent crimes,” he said.

The commissioner advised residents to be more vigilant due to possible heightening of crime during the ember period.

He also encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to assist the police in combating crime in the state. (NAN)