The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has officially been pulled out of the Nigerian Army witb a parade at Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, on Friday.
The ceremony which is part of the military tradition honouring a retiring Chief of Army Staff, involved a march past by the officers of the Nigerian Army.
The event was attended by some past Chief of Army Staff, current Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, representatives of other services agencies and Faruk’s Regular Course mates.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya was born on 5 January 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto state. Lt Gen Yahaya who is a member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), started his cadet training on 27 September 1985.
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He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on 22 September 1990. Lt Gen Yahaya has held several appointments including Staff, Instructional and Command.
Notable among the appointments held by the new COAS are 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.
He also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya). He was also Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Until his appointment as the 22nd COAS, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya was the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
The former COAS is a proud holder of several honours and awards, including Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed Staff Course (Dagger), National DefenceCourse (Chile).
Others are Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operations Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal.
He is happily married to Hajiya Salamatu Yahaya and blessed with children.
