ABUJA: The Nigerian Army has announced a major reshuffle involving several senior officers, with Maj. Gen. Ibikunle Ajose appointed as the new Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, while Maj. Gen. JE Osifo has been named Chairman of the Military Pensions Board.

The new appointments, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, affect key operational, command and strategic positions across the Nigerian Army.

The Army said the redeployments are aimed at strengthening operational effectiveness and ensuring that experienced officers are deployed to positions considered critical to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

Maj. Gen. Ajose, who previously served at Army Headquarters in the Department of Army Operations, takes over the North-East theatre from Maj. Gen. AE Abubakar.

Abubakar has been redeployed to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, where he will serve as Dean of the Faculty of Operational Research.

The North-East theatre remains a critical component of Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, with Operation Hadin Kai focused on tackling terrorist threats and restoring stability across the region.

In another major appointment, Maj. Gen. JE Osifo has been moved from the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation to become Chairman of the Military Pensions Board.

Maj. Gen. GS Muhammed, meanwhile, has been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General.

The changes form part of a wider restructuring affecting several senior officers across operational commands, Army Headquarters and other strategic formations.

Maj. Gen. AM Alechenu has moved from Defence Headquarters Garrison to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.

Maj. Gen. RT Utsaha has been redeployed from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation to Defence Headquarters Garrison as Commander.

Maj. Gen. AM Umar moves from the Department of Civil-Military Affairs at Army Headquarters to the Army War College Nigeria as Commandant.

His position at the Department of Civil-Military Affairs will be taken over by Maj. Gen. UM Alkali, who is moving from the Army War College Nigeria.

Maj. Gen. IE Ekpenyong has also been redeployed to the Department of Defence Logistics at Defence Headquarters as Director of Engineering Services.

The reshuffle also affects several brigade and operational formations.

Brig. Gen. AA Bello has moved from 6 Division Garrison/Sector 3 Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, to the Department of Defence Operations at Defence Headquarters.

Brig. Gen. MS Adamu has been redeployed from the Nigerian Army Women Command to take charge of the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander.

Brig. Gen. MS Sule moves from Operation Enduring Peace to 27 Task Force Brigade as Commander, while Brig. Gen. I Sule has been redeployed from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander.

Brig. Gen. E Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison as Commander.

Brig. Gen. AS Bugaje, who previously served at 2 Division Garrison, has been redeployed to the Land Forces Simulation Centre as Director of Administration.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said the appointments were designed to strengthen leadership and align the Army’s command structure with the country’s changing security environment.

According to her, priority was given to critical operational theatres and strategic positions to ensure that officers with the necessary leadership experience and expertise are deployed where they can make the greatest impact.

The Army leadership also charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence placed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation, professionalism and dedication to duty.

The latest Nigerian Army reshuffle comes as the military continues to adjust its command structure in response to security challenges across the country, particularly in the North-East and other operational theatres.