The authorities of the Nigerian Army have appointed a new Spokesman for the service in person of Col. SK Usman.
Investigations revealed that SK Usman is expected to take over from the current Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Olajide Laleye, who is on transfer to the 4th Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Benin, as the Commander.
Until his appointment, Col. Usman was the Spokesman of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri.
It was gathered that Usman was redeployed to take over the Directorate of the Army Public Relations because of his effectiveness as the Spokesman of the sensitive 7th Division which is entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the campaign against insurgency in the North-East.
Before his deployment to the 7th division in 2014, Usman also served as the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Director, Army Public Relations.
It was stated that Usman would take over as Acting Spokesperson because the office of the Director, Army Public Relations is usually for officers of the rank of Brig. General.
Usman’s posting to the Directorate of Army Public Relations was as a result of a recent deployment of senior officers of the Nigerian Army approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Kenneth Minimah.
The Army Spokesman, Laleye, had said, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, on the issue on Wednesday that “the Army would make a formal reaction on redeployments within the service later.”
Other recent postings by the Army include Maj. Gen. E. Adeosun, who takes over from Maj. Gen. Ibrahim as General Officer Commanding the 7th Infantry Division, Maiduguri.
Adeosun was the Commander, 14th Brigade of the Army, Ohaffia, Abia State.
It was learnt that Ibrahim who had been coordinating the recent campaigns against the insurgency was moved to the Army Headquarters, Abuja “to occupy a very high position.”
It was further learnt that the GOC in charge of the 2nd Division, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Abejirin, had retired from the service ‘after years of meritorious service.’
Abejirin is to be replaced by Maj. Gen. I.M. Muazu as GOC.
Laleye had said on Monday that, “the Nigerian Army has carried out postings as a result of promotions and retirements. Postings are done periodically in the Army as a result of promotions and retirements.” Agency report.
