Chief Of Army Staff: General Attahiru’s Possible Successors Emerge

The search for a replacement to Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has begun.

While on an official trip, Attahiru and other military officers died in a jet crash near the Kaduna airport on Friday evening. On Saturday, they were laid to rest.

Brig-Gen. Kuliya, the Chief of Military Intelligence, and Brig-Gen. Olayinka, the Provost Marshall, were among those killed.

Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 1st Division in Kaduna, is rumored to be the next COAS.

However, Ali-Keffi, a Nasarawa native, is not among the Army’s most senior officers. He is surrounded by more than 30 Major Generals.

President Muhammadu Buhari is unlikely to allow hundreds of generals to retire in one fell swoop at a time when Nigeria is at war with terrorists and robbers.

Beyond seniority, a senior military commander told PRNigeria that several considerations are examined when service chiefs are appointed.

“The President has the authority to choose anyone he wants, or choose someone recommended by the Minister of Defense. Apart from seniority, officers must have a solid understanding of military operations and intelligence,” he stated.

Other cops are being evaluated.

Major General Ben Ahanotu of Regular Course 35 from Anambra State is the Chief of Policy and Plan. He led the operation that apprehended Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf and his followers in their Maiduguri hideout in 2009 before handing them over to the police.

Another operative officer is Major General AM Aliyu of Gombe State’s Regular Course 36. He is the former Director of Foreign Liaison and Chief of Administration at the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was in charge of military operations intelligence processing.

Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf of Yobe State’s Regular Course 37. He is the former Multinational Joint Task Force Force Commander and Chief of Operations (MNJTF). Yusuf, who was previously the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, taught at the Nigerian Defence College (NDC), Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC) in Jaji.

Major General Faruk Yahaya of Zamfara State’s Regular Course 37. He is currently the Theatre Commander Operation in the North-East and was previously the General Officer Commanding Officer of 1 Division.