The newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General Faruk Yahaya on Friday assumed office as the 22nd COAS at the Army Headquarters Abuja and paid the traditional visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor who urged him to build on legacy.
The new COAS was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday following the death of Lt. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru along with 10 Military Officers in the ill-fated Air Crash in Kadana last week Friday.
After the initial welcome ceremonies at Army headquarters of lowering the former flag of His predecessor and hoisting the New flag, the New Army Chief addressed senior officers of the Nigerian Army briefly at the conference room of Army Headquarters in a closed-door session.
However, before his address, he observed a one minute silence for his predecessor, the late Gen Attahiru and 10 other late Officers.
Major General Faruk Yahaya prior to his appointment was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the counterterrorism, counter-insurgency military outfit in the North East code-named Operation HADIN KAI.
Earlier the COAS had visited the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor at Defence headquarters where the CDS congratulated him and presented to him, the Army Flag.
During his visit to Defence headquarters, the CDS wished Maj Gen Yahaya a successful tenure in office as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff.
General Irabor further urged the new COAS to build on the legacy of his predecessor, particularly in the fight against insurgency and banditry in the country.
The COAS was accompanied on the visit by the Chief of Policy and Plans Headquarters Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Benjamin Ahanotu.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday 27 May 2021 appointed Maj Gen Yahaya as the new Army Chief.