Defence/Security

Nigerian Navy redeploys, appoints senior officers

Published

4 years ago

April 4, 2023

Our Reporter

Nigerian Navy redeploys, appoints senior officers

Vice Admiral Auwal Gambo, Chief of the Naval Staff

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, has approved appointments of senior officers comprising Rear Admirals and Commodores as part of the routine reorganisation in the service.

The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Ayo-Vaughan said the new appointments resulted from the promotion of 128 senior officers in December 2022, mainly 52 rear admirals and 76 commodores.

He said the new appointments saw Rear Adm. Garba Abubakar being reappointed as the Nigerian Navy Delegate to the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Akano Adesope, was moved from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru and appointed as the Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordinance Depot.

Similarly, former Director of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Kennedy Egbuchulam, was appointed as the pioneer Chief of Communications and Information Technology.

Former Chief of Defence Space Administration, Rear Adm. Nnamdi Muogilim, moves to Defence Headquarters as the Executive Director Operations, Navy Holdings Limited.

Ayo-Vaughan said the erstwhile Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, WEY, Rear Adm. Adewale Olanrewaju, would to take over as the Director of Standards, Naval Headquarters.

The former Deputy Director Communication Intelligence at Defence Intelligence Agency, Rear Adm. Fatah Sanusi takes over as Executive Director, Administration, Human Resource & Personnel Management at the Navy Holdings Ltd.

“Rear Adm. Nuhu Bala, the former Director of Transformation, Defence Headquarters has been reappointed as the Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration.

Rear Adm. Danjuma Moses, former Director of Training, DHQ takes over as the Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.

“The routine reshuffling of the senior naval officers also affected Rear Adm. Vincent Okeke, former Director of Logistics, DHQ who has been reappointed as Director of Plans, DHQ and Rear Adm. Yakubu Wambai, the erstwhile Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command moves to DHQ as the Director of Transformation.

“The former Director Veterans Affairs, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Ismaila Zelani has been appointed as Director of Administration at Naval Headquarters.

“Rear Adm. Emmanuel Beckley, the erstwhile Admiral Superintendent Naval Ordnance Depot moves to Headquarters Defence Intelligence Agency as the Director of Logistics,” he said.

The naval spokesman further said Rear Adm. Domnan Dangwel, had been redeployed from DHQ to Naval Headquarters as the Director Special Projects, while Rear Adm. Tanko Pani, would remain in DHQ and appointed as Director of Training.

He said while the former Deputy Director Earth Observation at DSA, Rear Adm. Hamisu Sadiq, moved to NHQ as Director of Safety, Rear Adm. Olusanya Bankole would take over as the Director of Communications at NHQ.

According to him, the immediate past Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. Ibrahim Dewu takes over as the Director of Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate.

“Rear Adm. Kennedy Ezete, moves to DHQ as Director, Project Monitoring while Rear Adm. Noel Madugu, formerly Deputy Director Special Operation Forces, DHQ has been appointed Director of Logistics.

“The erstwhile Director of Logistics, Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, Rear Adm. Daupreye Matthew, is to resume as the Director, Innovation and Concept Development, NHQ.

“While Rear Adm. Emmanuel Nmoyem, was appointed as the Director, Human Rights Desk, DHQ while Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shettima, formerly Chief of Logistics, NHQ takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command.

“The former Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, Rear Adm. Monday Unurhiere is now the Director of Plans, NHQ while Rear Adm. Hamza Kaoje has been moved from Headquarters Western Naval Command to DHQ as Director of Equipment Standardisation and Harmonisation.

“Rear Adm. Idi Abbas, formerly Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command resumes as the Director of Operations, NHQ,” he added.

Ayo-Vaughan also said Rear Adm. Clement Atebi, had been moved from the Central Naval Command to NHQ as Director of Audit, while Rear Adm. Samson Bura, formerly Fleet Commander, Western Fleet, had been moved to DHQ as Director Search and Rescue.

He said Rear Adm. Oluwole Fadeyi, had been moved from Eastern Naval Command and appointed as Director Record, Returns and Analysis at NHQ while Rear Adm. Olusola Oluwagbire, takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command.

According to him, the erstwhile Deputy Commandant, AFCSC, Jaji Rear Adm. Mustapha Hassan, is now the Director of Policy, NHQ while Rear Adm. Bashir Mohammed, becomes the Chief of Logistics (Navy) and Rear Adm. Julius Nwagu become the Director Campaign Planning at NHQ.

He added that Rear Adm. Patrick Nwatu, takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command, while Rear Adm. Mike Oamen is now the Director Veterans Affairs, NHQ, while Rear Adm. James Okosun, takes over as the Commandant Nigerian Naval Engineering College, Sapele.

Rear Admiral Suleiman Abdullahi has been reappointed as the Managing Director Admiralty Exchange Ltd., Navy Holdings Ltd., while Rear Admiral Kasimu Bushi has been reappointed as the Chief of Accounts and Budget, Naval Headquarters.

“Furthermore, Rear Adm. Joseph Akpan, takes over as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command; Rear Adm. Ibrahim Shehu, appointed Director of Marine Engineering, NHQ and Rear Adm. Abdullahi Ahmed, moves to NHQ as Director, Recruitment, Reserve and Resettlement.

“Rear Adm. Fredrick Damtong has been reappointed Director Weapon Electrical; Rear Adm. Abdul-rasheed Haruna, the immediate past Commander, NNS BEECROFT is now the Chief Staff Officer, Eastern Naval Command while Rear Adm. John Mamman, has been appointed Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Western Naval Command.

“The immediate past Commander, Naval Base Lake Chad, Rear Adm. John Okeke is to take over as the Chief Staff Officer, Headquarters Central Naval Command while Rear Adm. Olatunde Olodude moves from the National Defence College, Abuja to take over as the Fleet Commander, Western Fleet.

“Rear Adm. Chijioke Onyemaobi has been reappointed as the Director Ships Spares, NHQ.

“Other senior officers affected by the new appointments are Rear Adm. Sunday Atakpa, former Commander, NNS SOROH, who has been appointed the Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command and Rear Adm. Abdul-hamid Baba-Inna, former Commander NNS DELTA who was appointed Director, Legal Services, NHQ.

“Rear Adm. Patrick Effah has been reappointed, Director, Maritime Domain Awareness, NHQ.

“Rear Adm. Chidozie Okehie has been reappointed Director Personnel Release and Rear Adm. Olusegun Soyemi, appointed as Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Analysis.

“Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele has been reappointed as the Commandant, Defence Intelligence College, Karu,” he added.

Defence/Security

Troops foil abductions, rescue 10 victims in Zamfara

Published

1 week ago

September 28, 2026

Our Reporter

GUSAU — Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have foiled two separate abduction attempts and rescued 10 victims in Zamfara State.

The JTF’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to Danja, troops operating in Maru Local Government Area received intelligence on September 27 that terrorists had abducted villagers in Kade Daba Village, Kanoma District.

The troops swiftly moved to the area, engaged the attackers and rescued three victims. A subsequent search operation led to the rescue of another victim, bringing the number rescued in the operation to four.

In a separate incident along the Tsafe-Funtua Road, troops conducting a security operation near Kwanoni heard sporadic gunshots and moved towards the area.

The troops encountered the attackers retreating through the surrounding high ground and engaged them, forcing them to flee.

Danja said the attackers had earlier set a Sharon vehicle ablaze while allegedly attempting to abduct its occupants. The occupants, however, escaped before the vehicle was completely consumed by fire.

He added that troops also rescued six people from another vehicle that lost control amid the gunfire.

The affected vehicle was later towed away to restore the free flow of traffic.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma commended the troops for their vigilance and swift response, assuring residents that the task force would sustain operations against terrorists across the North-West.

He also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities to security agencies through official channels.

Defence/Security

Why Christians Are Being Targeted in Nigeria — Majeed Dahiru Speaks

Published

11 months ago

November 13, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

Public affairs analyst, Majeed Dahiru, has weighed in on the reports of targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria, insisting that President Bola Tinubu cannot be accused of religious bias or complicity in the country’s security challenges.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Dahiru said President Tinubu has shown a strong commitment to national security and unity since taking office.

“President Tinubu has not, by any stretch of the imagination, been accused of religious bigotry or having sympathy for Islamist jihadist terror groups,” he stated.

According to him, the president has mobilised the armed forces and other security agencies to combat insurgency and restore stability in violence-prone regions.

Dahiru acknowledged that attacks on Christians in some parts of the country remain worrisome but maintained that there has been visible progress in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

“Absolutely not. You can criticise him for every other thing, but not for religious bias. There is no way he would sit idly as Commander-in-Chief and allow or encourage the killing of Christians,” he added.

His comments follow heightened international concern over alleged religiously motivated killings in Nigeria.

On October 31, former U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation as a “mass slaughter,” warning that Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria.

Trump also directed Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to investigate the reported killings, saying:

“I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’ But that is the least of it. When Christians, or any such group, are slaughtered as is happening in Nigeria (3,100 versus 4,476 worldwide), something must be done!”

However, the Nigerian government has dismissed the claims of a “Christian genocide,” insisting that security forces are confronting all forms of criminality without ethnic or religious bias.

Defence/Security

Genocide Allegations: Group Urges Tinubu to File Treason Charges Against Nigerians Who Reported Country to Trump

Published

11 months ago

November 10, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The National Patriotic Elders for Peace and Harmony of Nigeria (NPEPHN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to file treasonable felony charges against Nigerians who allegedly reported cases of Christian massacres to the United States government.

In a statement issued on Friday, the group’s president, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, condemned the actions of those he described as “unpatriotic elements”, insisting that their reports to foreign powers amounted to a betrayal of national sovereignty.

“Nigeria is a sovereign nation with adequate laws to address the concerns of its citizens,” AbdulAziz said. “Reporting the country to another nation is nothing short of treasonable felony, and those responsible must be prosecuted.”

The elders also urged Northern governors to urgently convene a regional security meeting involving religious and ethnic leaders to address the recurring violence in the region and to present verified data on casualties to counter “false narratives” being circulated internationally.

According to AbdulAziz, the silence of Northern leaders amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention in Nigeria was unacceptable. He advised them to compile accurate records of attacks and present factual evidence before relevant authorities.

“The claim that over 500,000 Christians have been killed must be supported with verifiable data,” he said. “The U.S. government knows that most of the victims of insecurity in Nigeria are Muslims, not Christians.”

Citing data from various conflict-prone regions, AbdulAziz maintained that 75 percent of victims of terrorism and communal violence since 1999 have been Muslims, noting that most of the affected areas — including Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe — are predominantly Muslim communities.

“These are the towns and villages that have been burned, destroyed, and displaced repeatedly,” he added.

While acknowledging that parts of the North Central zone — including Benue, Plateau, Taraba, and Kwara — have a higher Christian population, AbdulAziz said most of the conflicts in those states stem from farmer-herder clashes, where both sides suffer heavy losses.

“In many cases, Muslim herders are attacked and displaced by host communities. Their families and livestock are killed, yet no one talks about those casualties,” he noted.

AbdulAziz faulted the U.S. government for allegedly accepting “false genocide claims” without conducting independent investigations.

“It is shocking that the United States would believe such fabrications despite its advanced intelligence systems. We suspect there is a hidden political motive — possibly linked to Nigeria’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue at the United Nations, or our government’s growing alignment with France and other nations,” he alleged.

The elder statesman reminded Donald Trump of Nigeria’s historic role in promoting peace and democracy across Africa.

“Any attack on Nigeria would destabilize several African nations that depend on her strength. We therefore appeal to President Trump to reconsider his decision,” AbdulAziz stated.

The group reiterated its support for President Tinubu’s administration and urged Nigerians to unite in defending the country’s sovereignty from “external manipulation and internal sabotage.”