Some security experts on Thursday charged Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff(COAS), dwells on his vast experience to tackle security challenges currently bedeviling the country.
They gave the charge in separate interviews in Lagos with newsmen while they applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya as the new COAS.
Media reports that Yahaya replaces the late Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the immediate past COAS, who alongside 10 others, died in a military air crash that occurred on Friday in Kaduna.
The experts told newsmen that Yahaya is a good operation officer and that he had the experience and capacity to steer the country forward in the fight against insurgency.
Ben Okezie, a security expert, described Yahaya as a good operation military officer and a war strategist whom he met in Operation Lafia Dole.
Buhari meets Ghanaian President, Akufo-Addo, at Aso Villa
“He has the capacity to handle the situation and finish the work which his predecessors had begun in sustaining the peace of the country.
” Much has been given to him as COAS; therefore, much is also expected from him and I believe that he will meet up to standards and perform well,” he said.
Okezie said that the Nigerians should endeavor to put him in their prayers and pray that God grants him the wisdom and understanding to steer the country on the right path toward ending the insurgency.
“Yahaya is not an ethnic bigot but is someone who is balanced, fair, and inclusive in decision making.
“I believe he will do us proud as a seasoned, and an experienced officer of his time,” he said.
Also, Dennis Amachree, a security consultant said that Yahaya’s experience as Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, would be brought to bear in the fight against insurgency.
“The appointment of Yahaya is welcomed and came at a time that the country needs stability in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Amachree, however, said that Yahaya’s appointment would lead to very senior military officers retiring as is the norm in the military when an officer has promoted ahead of his contemporaries.
“The new COAS is Course 37 which implies that Courses 35 and 36 will be forced to retire because they cannot salute him upon his promotion.”
Media reports that appointments held by the new COAS include: Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command, and Staff College (AFCSC).
He was the 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.
Yahaya also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade, and 29 Task Force Brigades (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 COAS, Maj.- Gen. Farouk Yahaya was the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency operations in North-east Nigeria.
