President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new chief of Army Staff.
Yahaya will now oversee all army operations and activities all over the country. His appointed was made public via a statement signed by Onyema Nwachukwu, the acting director of defence informations.
Yahaya is from Sokoto state, married and blessed with children. Major General Farouk is of Regular Course 37.
Background
General Yahaya was born on January 5th 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto state. He began his cadet training on 27 September 1985 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on 22 September 1990.
He has held notable positions in the army namely; Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, Deputy Director Army Research and Development, the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield and Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.
The highly decorated officer was also the Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Military Awards
He currently holds several military awards including the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star and Grand Service Star. Others include; Command Medal, Field Command Medal, Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal and General Command Medal.
He is the current Theatre Commander Operation in the North-East and former General Officer Commanding Officer of the First Division of the Nigerian Army.
