ABAYOMI GABRIEL
OLONISHAKIN (DEFENCE) The new chief of defence staff, a major general from
Ekiti state, was until his appointment the head of the Nigerian Army Training and
Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger state. He topped his class at the Nigerian
Defence Academy (NDA). He is the most senior general in the armed forces with
the retirement of the former service chiefs. He is only the third
south-westerner to be Nigeria’s No. 1 military officer, after Alani Akinrinade
(1980-81) and Seyi Petinrin (2010-2012).
TUKUR BURATAI
(ARMY) Buratai, a major general from Borno state, was the commander of the
multinational joint task force with headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad. He previously
served as commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt and
commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna state. The
JTF in the Niger Delta used to report to him, and they recorded many successes
in arresting oil thieves. He holds two master’s degrees – one in history and
the other in philosophy.
IBOK-ETE EKWE
IBAS (NAVY) Ibas, a rear admiral from Cross River state, was at various times
naval provost marshal, chief staff officer, Naval Training Command; chief of
administration, Naval headquarters; flag officer commanding Western Naval
Command; and chief of logistics, Naval headquarters. He was until Monday the
CEO of Navy Holdings Limited.
SADIQUE ABUBAKAR
(AIR FORCE) Abubakar, an air vice marshall from Bauchi state, was chief of
standards and evaluation, NAF headquarters; chief of defence communications;
and air officer commanding, NAF Training Command. He served as the chief of
administration, NAF headquarters, before his latest appointment.
MONDAY RIKU
MORGAN (DEFENCE INTELLIGENCE) The new chief of defence intelligence, an air
vice marshal hails from Benue State, was commissioned into the Nigerian Air
Force as a pilot officer in June 1982. Riku (pictured) wa air officer
commanding, NAF Logistics Command.
BABAGANA MONGUNO
(NSA) Monguno, a retired major general from Borno state, was a member of the
Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21st Regular Course. Before his retirement, he held
several command and staff appointments including: commander, Guards Brigade;
deputy commandant, National Defence College; chief of defence intelligence;
chief of defence logistics; and commander, Training and Doctrine Command. He is
an architect.