Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has approved postings and appointments involving more than 2,300 officers across formations and units of the Nigerian Army.
Details of the exercise were contained in a signal signed by E. I. Okoro, Military Secretary (Army), dated December 31, 2025, which was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday.
According to the signal, the posting directive took immediate effect and covered initial 2,313 officers of various ranks.
However, amendments and deletions affecting 98 officers were later made, bringing the total number of affected personnel to 2,215.
The redeployment reshaped the Army’s senior command structure, with no fewer than 37 Major Generals moved to new appointments.
The changes included redeployments at the level of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) in some of the Army’s key operational divisions.
As part of the postings, Farouk Mijinyawa, who was until now the GOC of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, has been moved to the Army Headquarters, where he will serve in the Department of Army Policy and Plans (DAPP) as Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP).
Similarly, Ibikunle Ajose, formerly the GOC of the 8 Division, Sokoto, has been redeployed to the Army Headquarters and appointed Deputy Chief of Operations (Army), a position central to planning and coordinating ongoing military operations nationwide.
New GOCs have also been named for the affected divisions. B. P. Koughna has been appointed the new GOC of 8 Division and will also serve as Commander, Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force (JTF), North-West, an area grappling with persistent security challenges.
Meanwhile, A. A. Babalola has been redeployed from the Defence Headquarters, DAPP, to take over as GOC of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos.
Beyond the top echelon, the posting exercise also affected a wide range of senior and junior officers.
The signal showed that 187 Brigadier Generals and 189 Colonels were redeployed, alongside 235 Lieutenant Colonels, 856 Majors, 384 Captains, 318 Lieutenants, and three Second Lieutenants.
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The Army directed all affected officers to report to their new postings or areas of redeployment on the dates specified against their names in the signal.
It warned that failure to comply would attract appropriate sanctions, in line with military regulations.
However, a senior officer confirmed the development, describing it as a routine exercise designed to strengthen command effectiveness and enhance optimal operational performance across the Service.
