New Army Boss Takes Over After Successful Rescue Operation in Oyo

Auwalu Mahmuda, a major general, has taken charge as the 56th General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division in Ibadan, Oyo State. He succeeds Chinedu Nnebeife, who recently led one of the military’s most important operations this year, rescuing abducted schoolchildren and teachers in the state.

The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the 2 Division Headquarters, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment in Ibadan. This event followed Mr Nnebeife’s redeployment to head the newly established 10 Division in Jalingo, Taraba State.

Major General Mahmuda steps into this role at a time when the 2 Division is crucial for counter-insurgency and anti-kidnapping efforts in the South-west region.

After taking command, Mr Mahmuda expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, for trusting him with this position. He called the appointment a privilege and promised to build on the successes of his predecessor.

“I thank the Chief of Army Staff for finding me worthy of this appointment,” he said. He assured the officers and soldiers that he would work hard to boost operational effectiveness and security in the area.

Mr Mahmuda also praised Mr Nnebeife for his outstanding achievements while in charge. He promised to keep the momentum going.

Mr Nnebeife is leaving the Ibadan division after overseeing a significant rescue operation in recent times. This mission involved the rescue of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers who were taken from schools in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The kidnappers struck on 15 May, leading to weeks of intense military operations with the help of various security agencies. Although two teachers lost their lives while held captive, the rest of the victims were freed after spending 56 days with the abductors.

PREMIUM TIMES reported earlier that Mr Nnebeife led the intelligence-driven operation personally. He worked alongside other security agencies to locate the kidnappers without paying any ransom.

While handing the rescued victims over to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the army commander revealed that troops faced tough conditions and maintained surveillance while chasing the kidnappers. He called the mission one of the division’s most challenging internal security operations.

He noted that the operation relied on intelligence gathering, patience, and teamwork among security agencies rather than brute force.

The successful rescue operation has been celebrated by the Oyo State Government and security stakeholders as a key achievement in the fight against kidnapping in the South-West.

With Mr Mahmuda now in command of the 2 Division, focus will likely shift towards continuing security operations in the region. This includes anti-kidnapping campaigns and aiding civil authorities in dealing with new security challenges.

The 2 Division in Ibadan is one of the Nigerian Army’s key units, providing military support for internal security operations across several states in the South-west.