The Defence Headquarters says President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Major-General Farouk Yajaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
A statement by Defence spokesman, Brigadier-general Onyema Nwachukwu, put paid to speculations of a successor to Late Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash with six officers and four other men of the Armed Forces ast Friday.
The statement reads in full: “The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari has appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
“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.
“Please disseminate this information to the general public through your news medium.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”