The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Faruk Yahaya, has assumed command at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), Abuja as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army (NA).
General Yahaya was appointed COAS by President Muhammadu Buhari on 27 May, 2021, following the unfortunate demise of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others in a plane crash on Friday 21 May 2021.
On arrival from Maiduguri on Friday, the COAS proceeded to the Defence Headquarters where he formally reported to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor and received the command insignia (flag), the symbol of authority before proceeding to take over his office at the AHQ.
He was received at the Army Headquarters by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) Army, Maj Gen BI Ahanotu and thereafter inspected a quarter guards mounted in his honour and the symbolic lowering and hoisting of command flag to signify the end and beginning of a new command in line with Army traditions.
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A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima said that ”General Yahaya held a brief meeting with Principal Staff Officers after observing a minute silence in honour of former COAS, the late General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others.
Cooperation
He requested maximum cooperation of the Senior officers in order to achieve the mandate of safeguarding the country from the multifaceted security challenges facing the country.
The COAS further stressed ”team work and synergy as the way forward for the NA and the nation as no single individual or agency can make it alone.”
The COAS thereafter proceeded to the Ministry of Defence to pay homage to the Minister, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd).