Army Chief Waidi Shaibu has approved major shake-up amid failed coup plot against Tinubu Government.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that in the wake of heightened tension over an alleged coup plot within the military, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved a sweeping reorganization of senior officers across key command, staff, and training positions in what sources describe as a move to restore loyalty and tighten control within the Nigerian Army.
According to a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, the mass redeployment is aimed at reinvigorating leadership, strengthening command structures, and enhancing operational effectiveness. However, analysts believe the timing of the shake-up, coming just days after reports of a foiled coup attempt is far from coincidental.
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Strategic Redeployments
Under the new arrangement, Major General Bamidele Alabi has been appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) at the Army Headquarters, while Major General Jamal Abdulsalam, formerly Chief of Special Services and Programmes, has been moved to the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations as Chief of Defence Operations.
Major General Peter Mala has also been redeployed from the Office of the National Security Adviser to head the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) as Commander, signaling a tightening grip on training and doctrinal enforcement.
Meanwhile, Major General Samson Jiya moves from the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) to the Defence Headquarters Department of Defence Accounts and Budget as Chief of Defence Accounts and Budget, in what military insiders describe as a strategic repositioning to plug financial leakages and reinforce oversight.
Power Shifts in Key Departments
The shake-up extends across several sensitive formations:
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Major General Mayirenso Saraso – Chief of Operations (Army)
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Major General Isa Abdullahi – Chief of Administration (Army)
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Major General Musa Etsu-Ndagi – Chief of Civil-Military Affairs
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Major General Abubakar Haruna – Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora
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Major General Philip Ilodibia – Chief of Defence Space Administration
Corps Command and Field Leadership Overhaul
A significant number of corps commanders have also been reassigned:
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Major General Godwin Mutkut – Corps Commander Infantry
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Major General Umar Abubakar – Commander, Armour Corps
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Major General John Adeyemo – Corps Commander Artillery
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Major General Mohammed Abdullahi – Corps Commander Signals
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Major General Taofik Sidick – Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army)
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Major General Abdullahi Ibrahim – Corps Commander Ordnance
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Major General Adeyinka Adereti – Corps Commander Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
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Major General Nansak Shagaya – Corps Commander Supply and Transport
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Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed – Acting Corps Commander Education
New Appointments in Training and Defence Institutions
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Major General Oluyemi Olatoye – Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna
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Major General Emmanuel Mustapha – Commandant, Nigerian Army Signal School
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Major General Adamu Hassan – Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery
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Brigadier General John Bulus – Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Finance and Accounts
New Field Commanders Appointed
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Major General Saidu Audu – Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), N’Djamena
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Major General Warrah Idris – Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma
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Major General Oluremi Fadairo – General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, and Commander, Joint Task Force South East, Operation Udoka
Additionally, Major General Olatokumbo Bello becomes Director, Defence Media Operations, while Brigadier General Samaila Uba assumes office as Director, Defence Information.
Army Chief Sends Strong Message
Lt. Gen. Shaibu charged the newly appointed officers to demonstrate unwavering loyalty, professionalism, and integrity, warning that the Army will no longer tolerate indiscipline or divided allegiance within its ranks.
He urged them to sustain the current operational tempo, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and uphold the core ethos of the Nigerian Army, emphasizing that “the stability of the nation must remain paramount.”
Observers note that this is one of the most extensive military reshuffles in recent years, coming at a time when the Army is under pressure to maintain internal cohesion following the reported coup scare.
