Nigerian Army appoints commanders for four new divisions

The Nigerian Army has appointed commanders for four new divisions and activated three new brigades as part of a major reorganization approved by President Bola Tinubu last week. The appointments, approved by Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, follow the president's landmark decision to expand the army from eight to twelve divisions and recruit 28,000 new personnel.

The newly established divisions are the 5th Division in Makurdi, the 9th Division in Ilorin, the 10th Division in Jalingo, and the 83rd Division in Benin City. According to a statement from the acting director of Army Public Relations, the new divisions will immediately commence operations upon attaining initial operational capability, with deliberate measures in place to help them progressively reach full operational capability. The 83rd Division, covering Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa states, is scheduled to be activated later this year.

To lead the new formations, General Shaibu appointed several senior officers. Major General Moses Gara was redeployed to command the 5th Division in Makurdi, where he will also serve as commander of the Joint Task Force Operation Whirl Stroke. Major General Yakubu Yahaya...