Nigeria: Army Redeploys 52 Generals, 597 Others in Major Shake-Up

The Nigerian Army has redeployed 52 general and 597 other officers in what appears to be a major shakeup, it was gathered last night.

Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, who was recently posted out of 1 Mechanised-Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, was, however, left out in the redeployment that affected 649 officers.

Maj-Gen Oyebade was in the last posting, sent to the Army Headquarters in Abuja as chief of logistics.

But it was gathered last night that the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt-Gen Yusuf Tukur Buratai has cancelled the recent postings that redeployed Maj Gen Oyebade to the Army Headquarters without a new portfolio given to him.

Although the Army Spokesman, Brig Gen Sani Kukasheka Usman told LEADERSHIP last night that he was not aware of the new changes, an online newspaper, Premium Times quoted a recent memo with reference number MS/G1/3OO/2O7, signed by the military secretary, Maj Gen IO Rabiu indicating that the previous postings have been amended.

When contacted on the redeployment of 649 army officers, Usman simply replied, "When?"

It was gathered that seven major generals, 45 brigadier generals and about 597 officers were redeployed last week, following a memo from the Defence secretary.

No reasons were readily cited for the new postings and cancellations and amendments of previous postings, but military sources told Premium Times over the weekend that the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, had approved the exercise on July 18.

Amongst the seven major generals affected, the Army cancelled the redeployment of Adeniyi Oyebade, two months after he was transferred from being General Officer Commanding of Nigerian Army 1 Division, Kaduna, to Army Headquarters in Abuja as chief of logistics.

But no new posting was assigned to Mr. Oyebade, who was indicted last year in the December 2015 massacre of Shiites in Zaria.

About 100 Nigerian Army formations, units and departments within and outside the country were copied in the memo, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Redeployment has become a frequent feature in the Nigerian Army since Mr. Buratai assumed office two years ago, but none of them was as sweeping as the recent exercise.

Three major shake-ups had been recorded within the last seven months, with the most recent affecting 147 officers in May.

Source: AllAfrica