The search for a replacement for the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, has begun.
There were feelers that the military authorities, acting in concert with the Presidency, have shortlisted five candidates for consideration for the position.
But in the meantime, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General Danjuma All-Keffi, has been named the new acting army chief, according to reports by PRNigeria and Everyday.Ng.
He is also believed to be one of the five candidates.
The final decision on who is appointed rests with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
The acting Army Chief, Maj-Gen Alli-Keffi assumed Command as 37th GOC 1 Division Kaduna on Thursday, March 11, 2021, taking over from Maj.-Gen. Usman Muhammed who was redeployed to Defence Headquarters as the Director Research and Development Bureau.
Both Alli-keffi and Mohamned were members of regular course 38 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
A News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, report had quoted Alli-Keffi to have warned criminal elements perpetrating all forms of crimes within the Division’s purview that their days were numbered.
He had given the warning shortly after taking over command at the Division’s headquarters in Kaduna.
He had, however, acknowledged the security challenges in the division’s area of responsibility.
He reportedly expressed determination to restore peace in the area in line with the Army Chief’s vision of repositioning the Army for better performance.
While commending the immediate past GOC for taking the division to greater heights, he pledged to consolidate on the successes recorded as well as justify the confidence reposed in him by the Chief of Army Staff.
Online media reports on Saturday, May 22, 2021 on Alli-Keffi’s being named as acting Chief of Army Staff said details on him were sketchy. The reports said he was an alumnus of Bangladesh Defence College.