President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, May 27, 2021, appointed a new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya, to replace the late Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died, last Friday, May 21, 2021, alongside 10 other military officers in a plane crash at Kaduna International Airport.
The new appointment has raised curiosity among Nigerians who could not help but ask: Yahaya who? So, who is Major General Farouk Yahaya?
Before his appointment, Major General Yahaya was the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI, code name for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
An indigene of Zamfara State, the new COAS was born on January 5, 1966, in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State. He joined the Nigerian Army as a member of the 37 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. He also has a degree from the University of Salford, Manchester, England.
General Yahaya began his cadet training on September 27, 1985, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22, 1990.
The new COAS has held several appointments including: Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Deputy Director, Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development, and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
General Yahaya also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Minister of Defence; Commander, 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Edo State, and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya); Director, Manpower, Army Headquarters; Military Secretary, Army Headquarters; and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Happily married and blessed with children, General Yahaya is a proud recipient of several honours and awards, including: Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed staff course (Dagger), National Defence Course (Chile); Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operations Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal.
