Gen. Farouk Yahaya assumes command of Nigerian Army as 22nd COAS

Major General Farouk Yahaya, the new chief of staff of the Nigerian Army, today assumed command of the army.

His firt port of call was the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, after which he went to the Army Headquarters for the taking over ceremony.

Yahaya was received at the Army Headquaters by the Chief of Policy and Plan, Maj.-Gen. Ben Ahanotu, who also briefed him before proceeding to assume office.

Shortly after assuming office, the new COAS asked for a minute silence in honour of the late Attabiru and other officers who died with him.

Gen Yahaya later pleaded with newsmen to leave before going into a closed door meeting with other officers.

According to his profile, the new COAS was born on 5 January 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

He is also a member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on Sept. 22, 1990.

He has held several appointments, including Staff, Instructional and Command, notable among which are, Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade and Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC).

He was also Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.

General Yahaya also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya), Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army at different times.

He was until his appointment as the COAS the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, approved Yahaya’s appointment following the death of Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru in a place crash on May 21 in Kaduna.