Gbenro Adesina
Six days after the death of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru in a plane crash, President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a Sokoto born Major-General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
The appointment was revealed by the Defence Headquarters in a statement signed and released today by military spokesperson, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu.
According to the statement, the appointment of General Yahaya, a 37 Regular Course member takes immediate effect.
Prior to his appointment Major General Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East code named Operation HADIN KAI.
Yahaya is from Sokoto state, married and blessed with four children. Major General Farouk is of Regular Course 37. He earned Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
He was born on January 5, 1966 in Safawa under Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto in Sokoto State. He is a Muslim, who speaks fluently four languages: English, Spanish, Arabic and Hausa. His military career started in September 27, 1985, when he enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy as a 37 Regular Course cadet in training and got commissioned on September 22, 1990. As a regular combatant, he was attached to the Artillery arm of the Military.
Among the courses he attended are: Young Officers’ Course (Artillery), Machine Gun Officers’ Course, Air Defence Platoon Commanders’ Course, Basic Range Management Course, Junior Course, Commanding Officers’ Course and National Defence Course, Chile.
His progression in Army shows that he became a Lieutenant in September 27, 1990, Captain, September 27, 1994, Major, September 27, 1998, Lieutenant Colonel, September 27, 2003, Colonel, September 27, 2008, Brigadier-General, September 27, 2013 and Major-General, September 27, 2017.
Among the offices he has held include: Platoon Commander, 181 Mechanised Battalion, Platoon Commander, 82 Motorised Battalion, Company Second in Command, 81 Guards Battalion, Aid de camp –Military, Government House, Kano State, Company Second in Command, 20 Amphibious Battalion, Officer Commanding, 7 Battalion, General Staff Officer Grade 2, Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations, Staff Officer Grade 2 Admin, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Staff Officer Grade 1 (Admin & Quartering), Headquarters Guards Brigade, Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff, Army Forces Command and Staff College, Deputy Director Military, Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary (Army), Military Secretary, Deputy Director, Research and Development, Army Headquarters Department of Army Policy and Plans, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield), Deputy Military Secretary 1, Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary (Army), Principal General Staff Officer to the Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade, Commander, Headquarters 39 Task Force, Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafia), Director Manpower, Army Headquarters Department of Army Administration, Military Secretary (Army), Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary (Army), General Officer Commanding, Headquarters 1 Div, and currently, Commander, Headquarters, Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI.
His honours include: Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed Staff Course (Dagger, National Defence Course (Chile), Economic Community of West Africa States Monitory Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operation Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal. His hobbies include cracking jokes, reading, travelling and listening to local music.
