ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Nigerian Army has redeployed senior officers to key command and operational positions to strengthen operational effectiveness and enhance its response to Nigeria’s evolving security threats.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, approved the strategic postings, according to a statement by Col. Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, on Wednesday.

Under the new dispensation, Maj.-Gen. Ibikunle Ajose moves from Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations to Theatre Command Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, as Theatre Commander.

Maj.-Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, former Theatre Commander, moves to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre as Dean, Faculty of Operational Research.

Other senior appointments include Maj.-Gen. Aminu Umar, who moves from Army Headquarters Department of Civil-Military Affairs to Army War College Nigeria as Commandant.

Maj.-Gen. GS Muhammed moves from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to Nigerian Army Finance Corporation as Director-General.

Maj.-Gen. Julius Osifo moves from the Nigerian Army Finance Corporation to the Military Pension Board as Chairman, while Maj.-Gen. IE Ekpenyong moves to Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Logistics as Director, Engineering Services.

The Army also announced several brigade-level appointments aimed at strengthening operational and formation commands.

Brig.-Gen. MS Adamu moves from Nigerian Army Women Command to the newly established 8 Brigade as Commander, while Brig.-Gen. MS Sule moves from Special Task Force Operation ENDURING PEACE to 27 Task Force Brigade.

Brig.-Gen. I. Sule moves from the Directorate of Recruitment Management to 6 Division Garrison as Commander, while Brig.-Gen. E Azenda moves from the Land Forces Simulation Centre to 2 Division Garrison.

According to the statement, the postings were designed to place the right leadership, experience and expertise in critical operational theatres and strategic appointments.

It said the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to align the Army’s command structure with the country’s evolving security environment.

Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary leadership, operational innovation and professionalism.

He urged them to remain committed to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, protecting its territorial integrity and supporting civil authority in maintaining peace and security.

The COAS said the Army remained committed to a dynamic leadership and force-employment framework that would improve operational outcomes and strengthen joint and inter-agency coordination.

He pledged to enhance its capacity to respond decisively to contemporary and emerging threats in furtherance of Nigeria’s national security objectives.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, has dismissed as a “desperate and dangerous lie” a viral statement allegedly attributed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, claiming he threatened that Northerners would suffer if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election.

Eyiboh said Akpabio “never made such a statement” and challenged those circulating the alleged quotation to produce verifiable evidence showing where, when and before whom the Senate President supposedly made the remark.

In a statement, the aide said there was no authentic video, audio recording, speech, interview, press release, transcript or credible media report establishing that Akpabio uttered the alleged words.

He specifically challenged Engr. Ibrahim Umar Ammar, whom he identified as being associated with the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and ADC-NYAF in Kano State, to release the original and unedited recording of the purported statement.

«“Produce the original and unedited video or audio recording showing precisely where, when and before whom Senator Akpabio made the alleged statement,” Eyiboh demanded.»

He also asked those behind the allegation to identify the occasion, date and venue where the statement was supposedly made, as well as the journalists or media organisations that allegedly witnessed or reported it.

According to Eyiboh, a photograph of Akpabio with words superimposed beneath it cannot constitute credible evidence.

He described such material as “merely an allegation wearing typography” and urged anyone who merely reposted the claim to disclose its original source and provide the first publication from which it was obtained.

Aide Accuses Critics of Ethnic Incitement

Eyiboh accused those circulating the alleged quotation of deliberately exploiting ethnic sentiments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This is not legitimate political opposition. It is calculated incitement designed to manufacture fear, resentment and hostility between Northern Nigerians and a national leader from the South,” he said.

The Senate President’s aide argued that Akpabio’s political relationships and legislative record also contradict attempts to portray him as hostile to Northern Nigeria.

He cited Akpabio’s political relationship with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin of Kano, the presence of Northerners among his aides and his backing for legislative measures targeted at development across Northern communities.

Among the initiatives he highlighted were the establishment of the North-West Development Commission and North-Central Development Commission, as well as the Federal Polytechnic in Rano, Kano State, and the Federal University of Health Sciences in Tsafe, Zamfara State.

Eyiboh also recalled Akpabio’s visit to Borno State following the devastating floods in Maiduguri and the National Assembly’s intervention to support victims.

He said the Senate contributed ₦74 million to the relief effort, while the two chambers of the National Assembly provided a combined ₦174 million.

According to him, the Senate under Akpabio has also supported legislation covering student loans, minimum wage, security, education and economic development, which he said were designed to benefit Nigerians regardless of region.

‘Produce Evidence or Withdraw the Claim’

Eyiboh urged Nigerians to verify the authenticity of politically sensitive claims before sharing them online, stressing that the burden of proof rests with those making the allegation.

“The demand is therefore straightforward and categorical: produce the original video, produce the original audio, produce an authenticated transcript, name the occasion, give the date and venue, and identify the media organisations that witnessed or reported the statement,” he said.

He called on political parties and their supporters to focus on records, policies, achievement

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Benue State Government has dared the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to identify the government aide allegedly responsible for mobilising youths to block his convoy from accessing Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Tersoo Kula, threw the challenge while appearing on The Morning Show, an Arise TV programme, on Wednesday.

Kula said the state government was prepared to support an investigation into the incident, insisting that anyone found to have orchestrated the obstruction should face the law.

He said Obi and the NDC should not only name the alleged aide but also provide evidence linking the individual to the incident.

According to him, the police had the responsibility to investigate the allegation and establish those behind the reported blockade.

“The incident was completely unknown to the government until we started seeing pictures of what was happening,” Kula said.

He added, “I challenged them that they should name that aide. They mentioned a particular aide, and we said they should go ahead and mention him. If there’s any evidence, the police commissioner should ensure that the person who directed this is arrested and brought to book.”

The governor’s spokesman maintained that Governor Alia had no reason to deploy youths to frustrate Obi’s movement, arguing that the governor does not support political thuggery.

Kula said if Obi’s visit posed any security or political concern to the governor, the appropriate response would have been to rely on recognised security agencies rather than mobilise youths.

“Governor Alia does not promote thuggery in Benue State. If Obi is a threat to him, or maybe he felt that Obi’s coming would cause a problem for him, the right thing to do is to get legitimate security operatives to do the needful and not to gather youths or send them to go and block him,” he stated.

The controversy followed Obi’s attempt to visit Yelewata, a community in Guma Local Government Area that suffered a deadly attack in June 2025 in which more than 200 people were reportedly killed.

Obi had accused the state government of frustrating his movement to the community after youths reportedly blocked his convoy.

However, the Benue State Government has repeatedly denied having prior knowledge of Obi’s visit.

Kula had earlier said neither Governor Alia nor the state’s security agencies were informed ahead of Obi’s movement to Yelewata.

He argued that as a presidential candidate, Obi should have had adequate security arrangements for his movement, particularly to a community considered sensitive because of its history of violence.

The governor’s spokesman said the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among other security agencies, ought to have been notified ahead of the visit.

“If you are visiting a state, the security apparatus of the state is supposed to know. The Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, Civil Defence and others are supposed to be aware so that they can provide adequate security for you,” he said.

Kula also questioned how youths could have successfully stopped a presidential candidate if adequate security arrangements had been made for the visit.

He further said Governor Alia had not received any security briefing concerning Obi’s movement to Yelewata.

On the broader security situation in Benue, Kula acknowledged that insecurity remained a serious concern despite describing the situation in the state as having improved to what he called “relative peace.”

He stressed that the fact that other states were experiencing similar security challenges was not an excuse for the Benue government to become complacent.

“What is happening in Benue State in respect to insecurity is happening to other states. It’s not peculiar to Benue,” he said.

“But there is no excuse saying that because it’s happening to other states, we should be comfortable. We are not comfortable.”

Kula said Governor Alia remained concerned about insecurity and was committed to reducing attacks across the state to the barest minimum.