At least 24 Major Generals in the Nigerian Army may soon exit the system following the appointment of Major General Farouq Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).



The Generals, 13 from the North and 11 from the South, are senior to Yahaya, the immediate-past Theatre Commander of counter-insurgency Operation Hadin Kai.

Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the Sokoto indigene to succeed late Ibrahim Attahiru.

Yahaya assumed office on Friday at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Attahiru, a Lieutenant General from Kaduna, and other officers died in a plane crash near the Kaduna International Airport.

PRNigeria reports that the North West, where Yahaya hails from, has three Major Generals above him – Major Generals MSA Aliyu, YP Auta, and J Sarham.

The four Major Generals from the North Central above Yahaya are JO Akomolafe, UM Mohammed, NE Angbazo, and Kay Isiyaku.

There are also six from the North East, namely, Major Generals AS Maikobi, SA Yaro, AT Hamman, AM Aliyu, HPZ Vintenaba, and IM Yusuf.

From the South West are five Major Generals – JB Olawumi, G Oyefesobi, BM Shafa, BA Akinroluyo, and KO Kadiri.

There are Generals CO Ude, MO Uzoh, CC Okonkwo, BI Ahanotu, and OF Azinta, from the South East.

Major General HE Ayamasaowei from Bayelsa State is the only Army senior officer from the South-South.

Currently, there are over 100 officers in the rank of Major General in the Nigerian Army.

The 2-star Major General rank in the Army is equivalent to Rear Admiral in the Navy and Air Vice Marshal in the Air Force.