81st Division (Nigeria)

The 81st (Amphibious) Division of the Nigerian Army is a division active since 2002. It has an area of responsibility covering Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria.

81 Division
Active26 May 2002 – present
Country Nigeria
TypeMechanized Infantry
RoleCombat support
SizeDivision
Part of Nigerian Army
Garrison/HQEti-Osa, Lagos, Nigeria
Commanders
General Officer CommandingMajor General Mohammed Usman

History

edit

It is numbered in honor of the 81st (West Africa) Division. The Division which replaced the Lagos Garrison Command (LGC) came into being in 2000.[1] The youngest Division in the Nigerian Army, it was formed on 26 May 2002.[2]

Structure

edit

The division previously included:[3]

  • 81st Division Garrison (Lagos)[1]
  • 9th Brigade (Ikeja)
  • 165th Mechanised Battalion
  • 19th Mechanised Battalion
  • 242nd Recce Battalion[3]
  • 35 Artillery Brigade (Alamala Barracks[4])

Commanders

edit
  • Major General Enobong Udoh (5 February 2018 – 7 August 2018)
  • Major General Musa Sani Yusuf (7 August 2018 – 23 July 2019)
  • Major General Johnson Olubunmi Irefin (23 July 2019 – 22 July 2020)
  • Major General Godwin Umelo (22 July 2020 – 13 March 2021)
  • Major General Lawrence Fejokwu (13 March 2021 – 15 February 2022)
  • Major General Umar Thama Musa (15 February 2022 – 29 July 2022)[5]
  • Major General Obinna Ajunwa (29 July 2022 – 27 July 2023)[6][7]
  • Major General Mohammed Takuti Usman (27 July 2023 – present)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b 81 Division
  2. ^ "Nigerian Army". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  3. ^ a b "Nigerian Army Order of Battle". Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  4. ^ Ayodeji (2022-07-04). "GOC 81 DIVISION CHARGES TROOPS TO REMAIN APOLITICAL, DISCIPLINE". Nigerian Army | Official Website. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  5. ^ Staff, Orientalnews (2022-02-15). "Major General Umar Musa Takes Over At Army 81 Division". Oriental News Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  6. ^ "Nigeria Army: Chief of Army Staff reshuffle top officers as security threat worse". BBC News Pidgin. 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  7. ^ "Major Shake-up as Army Appoints New GOCs, Reshuffles Senior Officers – THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-03-12.