PRNigeria reports that top Army officials affected by the redeployment include Maj. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Lake Chad and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division, Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
The Nigerian Army has redeployed 75 of its senior officers in a major shake-up that will take effect from April 3, 2023.
PRNigeria reports that top Army officials affected by the redeployment include Maj. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Lake Chad and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1 Division, Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
While Gen. Khalifa will be departing MNJTF on secondment to National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Gen. Lagbaja will be leaving the 1 Division for the Army Headquarters as Chief of Operation DAOP.
It gathered that the current Chief of Operations, Nigerian Army, Major General Olufemi Akinjobi will take over as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, while a Director to the Chief of Army Staff in Abuja, Major General Gold Chibuisi, will take over as the Theatre Commander MNJTF.
It was reported that serving as 1 Division GOC, Kaduna, Gen. Lagbaja has been instrumental to the success troops have recorded against armed bandits, terrorists and cattle rustlers in the state and Niger, Kebbi, and other Northwest states.
In a similar vein, Gen. Khalifa has reportedly been responsible for the decline in the firepower of terror sects in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic among others.
PRNigeria reports that a source in 1 Division and at the MNJTF Headquarters said the two senior Army officials - Lagbaja and Khalifa, have been courageous military commanders.
The source whose identity was not revealed was quoted as saying, “The atmospheres at 1 Division and MNJTF have been sombre since the news of the redeployment of Gen. Taofeek Lagbaja and Gen. Abdul Khalifa were broken. They are indeed among the finest Generals the Nigerian Army is endowed with. We can only wish them success in their new responsibilities.”