By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
On Tuesday, January 26, President Muhammadu Buhari accepted the resignation of his Service Chiefs who have been with him since his first term and appointed new security chiefs in their stead.
Here, to borrow a cliché, are the new kids on Nigeria’s security block.
Major General Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff)
Major General Leo Irabor served as Commander, Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army (TRADOC), Minna. He also served as Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), Defence Headquarters.
He served as Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, headed the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as the Field Commander and at one time, served as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff.
Major General Irabor who hails from Agbor, Delta State was a member of the Regular Course (RC) 39 of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA).
He is an engineer by training. The fall of Sambisa Forest and other territories hitherto under the control of Boko Haram was largely credited to his military prowess. As a General in the Nigerian army, he has proven to be modest, down-to-earth and not materialistic.
AVM Isiaka Amao (Chief of Air Staff)
Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, was born on September 14, 1965 at Enugu. He hails from Oshogbo, Osun State.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on January 19, 1984 as a member of the Regular Course 35 of the Nigeria Defence Academy.
He had previously served as Trainee/Squadron Pilot, NAF Unit 99 ACTG Kainji (1993-2004), Instructor Pilot/Squadron Pilot, 301 FTS Kaduna (2004-2007), Air Assistance to Chief of Air Staff, Deputy Defence Adviser, Nigerian High Commission London, Assistant Director of Operation Defence Headquarters, Director of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Air Force.
Until his appointment as the Chief of Air Staff by the President, Muhammadu Buhari, AVM I. O. Amao was the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Lagos.
Major-General I. Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff)
Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, until his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, was the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army.
He was appointed to lead the offensive against Boko Haram in the North-East in May 2017.
He was however redeployed by the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai after string of attacks by the insurgents, including after giving him a deadline in July to deliver Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead or alive within 40 days.
Rear Admiral A.Z. Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff)
Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo was born on April 22, 1966 and hails from Nasarawa LGA in Kano State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Navy on 24 September 24, 1984 as a member of Regular Course 36 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on September 24, 1988.
He is an Underwater Warfare specialist with a subspecialisation in Intelligence. The senior officer has attended several military courses which include, Sub-Technical course and Officers Long course both at NNS QUORRA. He also attended Junior Division 48/89 and Senior Course 26 both at AFCSC Jaji.
Other courses attended include the National Defence Course at the South African National Defence College. Until his recent appointment as the CNS, he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Space Administration.
