Luka Nyeh Yusuf CFR GSS GPP DSO psc(+) fwc Msc (22 September 1952 –2 June 2009) was a Nigerian army lieutenant general who served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 2007 to 2008. [1] He succeeded Owoye Andrew Azazi as Chief of Army Staff. [2]
Yusuf was born on September 22,1952,in Bara-Kagoma,Kaduna State. He attended the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Artillery Corps in 1975 and was a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Course 14. Others in his NDA class were officers such as former Chief of Defence Staff,Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike [1]
Yusuf served as Commander of the Nigerian military contingent to United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) before being appointed in 2006 as Commander in Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. [3] Upon Yusuf's appointment as Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff by President Umaru Yar Adua in 2007, [4] Liberia's President awarded General Yusuf with Liberia's Honor of Distinguished Service. He will always be remembered for his contributions in the area of bringing peace to the troubled Niger Delta Region where he described the militants as misguided children. He said that though the Nigerian Army has the wherewithal to deal with the militants,it was better for the nation to take the path of dialogue than confronting the militants in an all out offensive.
He also said all soldiers had the right to sue the army if they felt they had been slighted in any way and if any judgment was given in favour of the complainants,the army would abide by any court ruling.
His words,“I am a fulfilled man,we have been able to achieve monumental feats because,compared to the last 30 years,the difference in the last one year has been immense. We set the Army on a transformation path,we beefed up training,Eagle Ex-Ring 1V 2007 and NADCEL 2008 is an attestation to this fact. In addition to several unit level trainings,preparations are currently on for others now. My appeal,however,is that the maintenance of our equipment should not be compromised.’’
He said,“we were 101 that got admission into NDA in 1973;only 67 came through two years later. Today,28th of August 2008,I am the last man standing among the 14th Regular Course. I am an extremely fulfilled man. I am proud to have tasted battles and commanded the Nigerian Army,the pride of every soldier”.
Yusuf was very particular about the welfare of his men. “Never in the history of the Army have barracks been renovated enblock as five barracks are slated for renovation,meaning that in four years,all Army barracks in the country would have been renovated. We also made sure that our troops on peace support operations get their full allowances as stipulated by the United Nations. It has never happened before”.
He also launched the Barracks Youth Foundation for the upliftment of the teeming youngsters in the barracks.
He also cherished the transformation of the Army and he put so much energy into the realisation of that dream. [5]
Yusuf died in London on June 2,2009,after a protracted illness at the age of 56 [6]
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The Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF) are the military forces of Nigeria. The forces consist of three service branches:the Nigerian Army,Nigerian Navy,and Nigerian Air Force. The President of Nigeria functions as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces,exercising his constitutional authority through the Ministry of Defence,which is responsible for the management of the military and its personnel. The operational head of the AFN is the Chief of Defence Staff,who is subordinate to the Nigerian Defence Minister. With a force of more than 230,000 active personnel,the Nigerian military is one of the largest uniformed combat services in Africa. According to Global Firepower,the Nigerian Armed Forces are the fourth-most powerful military in Africa,and ranked 35th on its list,internationally.
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Adetunji Idowu Ishola Olurin mni was a Nigerian general who served as the military Governor of Oyo State from 1985 to 1988 and Field Commander of ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia from 1992 to 1993 during the First Liberian Civil War. Olurin retired from service in 1993,and was a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was administrator of Ekiti State from 19 October 2006 until 27 April 2007.
Owoye Andrew AzaziGSS DSS MSS CMH was a Nigerian army general who served as National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan,was Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Nigeria,and Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Before his first service chief appointment (COAS),he was General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division,Kaduna State.
Martin Luther AgwaiMSS DSS fwc is a retired Nigerian Army general who served as Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff. He was the 13th Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Calabar
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is a military university based in Kaduna,Nigeria,that trains officer cadets for commissioning into one of the three services of the Nigerian Armed Forces:the Army,the Navy,and the Air Force. The duration of training at the Nigerian Defence Academy is five years.
The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land force of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Tracing its history to British colonial forces in West Africa,it is the largest component of the armed forces. The President of Nigeria is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Army,and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff,who is the highest ranking military officer of the Nigerian Army. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council (NAC). The Nigerian Army is operationally and geographically divided into ten divisions,the basic field formation. The army has been involved in operations throughout the country,most especially during the Nigerian Civil War,and has undertaken major operations abroad. Nigerian Army officers have served as chiefs of defence in other countries,with Brigadier General Maxwell Khobe serving as Sierra Leone chief of staff in 1998–1999,and Nigerian officers acting as Command Officer-in-Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia from at least 2007.
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College,Jaji is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces,including the army,air force and navy. It is near the village of Jaji,Nigeria,about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State,Nigeria. It is currently headed by Air Vice Marshal Hassan Alhaji.
Victor Samuel Leonard Malu DSS mni fwc psc was Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 1999 to 2001 and Force Commander of the ECOMOG peace-keeping force in Liberia from 1996 to 1998.
Suraj Alao Abdurrahman,was a Nigerian Army general who served as the Command Officer in Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia,with former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the Commander-in-Chief. According to then President Johnson Sirleaf,General Abdurrahman "was an exceedingly exceptional gentleman officer whose contributions lifted the Armed Forces of Liberia to professional greatness and emplace our military amongst UN peacekeepers”.
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Tukur Yusuf Burataipsc(+) NAM GSS ndc (BD) is a retired Nigerian army lieutenant general,former Chief of Army Staff,and Nigeria's Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1983 and has had multiple command,administrative,and instructional appointments.
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The 2016Niger Delta conflict is an ongoing conflict around the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in a bid for the secession of the region,which was a part of the breakaway state of Biafra. It follows on-and-off conflict in the Christian-dominated southern Niger Delta in the preceding years,as well as an insurgency in the Muslim-dominated northeast.
Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali was a Nigerian Army officer who commanded the Army's 272 Tank Battalion. He was a prince to the people of Bassa Nge in Kogi state. He was killed in an ambush by Boko Haram in Malam Fatori,Borno State.
Major General Prince Charles Johnson III is a retired Liberian military officer who served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces from 5 February 2018 to 5 February 2024.
Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) is a Nigerian Public tertiary institution located in Biu,Borno State,Nigeria. It is a research higher institution for innovation and technology for the Nigerian Army. It was established in 2018.
Lieutenant general,is the second-highest rank of the Nigerian Army and generally it is the highest active rank as the Nigerian army do not have any appointment in the rank of full general but in the case of the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff,the rank of full general is given. It is the equivalent of a multinational three-star rank.
Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) Nigeria | |
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