The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, May 27, 2021 appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) after the demise of former Chief of Army Staff, Attahiru Ibrahim who died in a plane crash.
Major General Farouk Yahaya will now command all army operations and activities all over Nigeria. Yahaya appointment was made public through a statement signed by the acting director of defence informations, Onyema Nwachukwu.
Farouk Yahaya had worked with United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins in Borno, to discuss the release of children in custodial facilities.
In 1985, Yahaya gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy, as member of 37 Regular course. He graduated in September 1990 and was posted to Infantry.
Yahaya has been the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army before he handed over power to Major General Usman Mohammed in April 2020, to become the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) in Maiduguri, Borno State.
In 2019, Yahaya headed Operation CLEAN SWEEP aimed at flushing out bandits in Kuduru forest, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
State of Origin: Yahaya is from Zamfara state,
Marital Status: Married and blessed with children.
Date of birth: 5th of January 1966
Nationality: Nigeria
Local Government: Bodinga