New nigerian chief of army staff
As of October 2021, the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army is Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya. He took over from Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash on May 21, 2021.
Here are some key facts about Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya:
- Date of Birth: August 8, 1966
- State of Origin: Zamfara State, Nigeria
- Commissioning: He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1988 as a Second Lieutenant.
- Education: He holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Abuja.
- Military Career: Yahaya has had a distinguished military career, serving in various capacities, including as a Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander, and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 1st Mechanized Division.
- Previous Appointments: Before becoming the COAS, Yahaya was the GOC of the 1st Mechanized Division and the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad region.
- Awards and Decorations: He has received several awards and decorations, including the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), and the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
As the new COAS, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya is expected to lead the Nigerian Army in its efforts to combat insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges facing the country.