The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Faruk Yahaya has assumed command at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) in Abuja as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army on Friday, May 28, 2021.
It will be recalled that Major General Faruk Yahaya was appointed the 22nd Chief of Army Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari
on Thursday, May 27, 2021 following the untimely passage of Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other top military officers in a plane crash a week ago.
According to a press release made available by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima on May 28, 2021; the new COAS on his arrival from Maiduguri, proceeded to the Defence Headquarters where he formally reported to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor.
General Yahaya also received the the flag, which is the insignia and symbol of authority before he proceeded to take over his office at the Army Headquarters.
Meanwhile, the the COAS was
received at the Army Headquarters by the Army’s Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Major General Ahanotu B.I. Thereafter, General Yahaya inspected a quarter guards mounted in his honour and the symbolic lowering and hoisting of command flag which signified the end and beginning of a new command, in line with Army traditions.
Moreso, the Army Chief later held a brief meeting with the Principal Staff Officers (PSO) after he had observed one minute silence in honour of the former COAS, late General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers that died in the plane crash with him. He however, requested for maximum cooperation of the senior officers in a bid to achieve the mandate of rescuing the nation from her multifaceted security challenges.
It was added that General Yahaya
also harped on the need for team and synergy as the only way forward for the Nigerian Army and the nation. He further stressed that no single individual or agency could make it alone.
Moreover, the Army Chief later paid a homage to the Defence Minister, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) in his office at the Defence ministry.