Di Nigerian Army don approve di appointment of General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for di newly established Army Divisions, as di military expand dia command structure to strengthen operations across di kontri.
Di appointments come afta President Bola Tinubu approve di creation of four additional divisions, making am 12 divisions from di initial eight. Di Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, wey approve di appointments, say di new formations go immediately commence operations for di respective locations afta dem get Initial Operational Capability.
Tok-tok pesin for di Nigerian Army, Colonel Appolonia Anele, announce dis informate for one statement on dia official X account on Wednesday, 29 July. Di military explain say dem design di new divisions to ensure seamless operationalisation, operational continuity and rapid force projection across di kontri.
Meanwhile, di Northern Senators Forum don condemn di recent attacks for Benue and Kaduna states wey result for di killing of dozens of citizens and di displacement of many families. Di Forum, for one statement by dia chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, express deep sympathy with di governments and people of both states.
Di Forum welcome di Federal Government commitment to strengthening national security through President Tinubu approval of di army expansion and di recruitment of 28,000 additional military personnel. Dem note say di expansion na timely step wey provide more strategic coverage and operational support across di kontri, and help restore public confidence.
However, di senators stress di need for adequate equipment, logistics, and welfare for personnel to enable di new formations to function effectively. Dem call on communities to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information, and urge di Federal Government to ensure swift apprehension of perpetrators and adequate support for victims and displaced persons.
For di Benue attack on Tuesday, 28 July, suspected herdsmen invade Efeyi Community for Ugboju, Otukpo LGA, kill 13 people and injure several others. Di Executive Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Maxwell Ogiri, confirm say 14 bodies don recover so far, plus many injured victims evacuated to hospitals. Ogiri insist say di attack na unprovoked, alleging say armed herders continue to invade communities and kill innocent residents.
For Kaduna, a separate attack on Sunday, 26 July, for Naridon Village, Kamaru Ward, Kauru LGA, claim about 30 lives, including women and children, and lead to destruction of homes. Di Northern Senators Forum reiterate say lasting peace dey achieved through coordinated security action, better intelligence, and sustained investment for di security architecture.
Under di new army structure, di GOCs appointed include Major General Yakubu Yahaya for 9 Division Ilorin, Major General Chinedu Ralph Nnebeife for 10 Division Jalingo, Major General Moses Gara for 5 Division Makurdi, and Major General Auwalu Mahmuda for 2 Division Ibadan. Di army also create three new brigades to strengthen di new divisions.
Di Army say di new divisions go significantly enhance command and control, improve operational coordination, strengthen border security, facilitate faster deployment of troops and resources, and increase capacity to respond decisively to security threats. President Tinubu approve di expansion on 23 July 2026, plus recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, to demonstrate im administration commitment to investing for di Nigeria security infrastructure.
