The following are the 9 of 36 States plus the Federal Capital Territory Abuja that have produced Chief of Army Staff since 1999.
1. Benue
2. Delta
3. Kaduna
4. Bayelsa
5. Kano
6. Abia
7. Rivers
8. Borno
9. Sokoto.
Kaduna State has produced the highest number of CoAS since 1999 – (2).
The North has produced 7 CoAS, while the South has produced 4.
All the CoAS from 1999 were appointed as Major-Generals, then promoted to Lieutenant-Generals.
When this happens, all the officers in rank ahead of them were retired because of the military’s tradition of seniority.
Here are all the CoAS from 1999, their states of origin & the years they spent in office:
Victor Malu – Benue (1999-2001)
Alex Ogomudia – Delta (2001 – 2003)
Martin Luther Agwai – Kaduna (2003-2006)
Owoye Andrew Azazi – Bayelsa (2006 – 2007)
Luka Yusuf – Kaduna (2007 – 2008)
Abdulrahman Dambazau – Kano (2008 – 2010)
Azubuike Ihejirika – Abia (2010 – 2014)
Kenneth Minimah – Rivers (2014 – 2015)
Tukur Buratai – Borno (2015 – 2021)
Attahiru Ibrahim – Kaduna (2021 – 2021)
Farouk Yahaya – Sokoto (2021 -)
Southwest is amongst the geopolitical zones yet to produce a Chief of Army Staff (CoAS).
